Restorative Justice
Victim Offender Dialogue Program
Neighborhood Accountability Board
Parent Teen Mediation
Restorative Justice
Restorative Justice is a practice that emphasizes the way crime hurts relationships. Restorative Justice practitioners see crime as something that happens to a victim and a community, rather than as a violation against the state. The restorative justice process allows the person who has caused harm to take responsibility for his or her actions, and empowers the person who has been harmed to take a central role in the justice process. By providing a place for victims and offenders to dialogue, we see high rates of victim satisfaction, true accountability by the offender, and engagement of community members as volunteer mediators. Offenders who go through our program are less likely to commit another crime, which leads to safer communities. This philosophy is in line with CRC’s mission, and we are pleased to offer Restorative Justice Programs here.
The Victim Offender Dialogue Program
Our Victim Offender Dialogue Program (VODP) brings juvenile offenders face to face with those who have been harmed by their actions. We handle first-time and repeat offenses, violent and non-violent offenses, misdemeanors and felonies. The Program Coordinator and a CRC-trained mediator facilitate meetings between the victim and offender. They support both parties’ efforts to communicate constructively about the impact of the offense on their lives, and help them develop a mutually agreeable plan for the offender to make things right. Victims who participate in the program experience empowerment, validation and a voice in the justice process. Offenders get the opportunity to understand the impact of their actions, to make things right, and to make more responsible choices in their lives. This has a direct impact on the community, which becomes safer from a resulting drop in recidivism rates.
The Neighborhood Accountability Board
The Neighborhood Accountability Board (NAB) is very similar to VODP. It provides victims and members of the neighborhood with the opportunity to converse with offenders in a safe and productive manner. In this program, a Probation Officer teams with the Program Coordinator and community mediators to offer a process which focuses the attention on what harm was done, how people’s lives have been affected, and what needs to be done to repair the harm.
All cases for both VODP and NAB are referred to the Conflict Resolution Center by the Santa Cruz County Juvenile Probation Department, which fully promotes and supports Restorative Justice in our County.
Parent Teen Mediation
The aim of Parent Teen Mediation is to give teens and their parents/guardians the chance to discuss their issues constructively. The Program Coordinator and CRC-trained mediator teach them positive communication skills, facilitate mutual understanding, work to strengthen relationships, and help parents and teens to develop mutually acceptable agreements that promote healthy interaction and home life.
Parent Teen Mediation is available to all teens
and their parents throughout the County.
Right now the service is free to girls. While we seek funding to make the service free for everyone, there is a nominal fee on a sliding scale for boys. No referral by an outside party is required, so parents and/or teens are welcome to call us directly to request this service at (831)475-9733.
The Conflict Resolution Center works in collaboration with the Probation Department to offer VODP, NAB and Parent Teen Mediation throughout Santa Cruz County. Our Restorative Justice Programs continue to provide individual and community healing after crime occurs. Our Parent Teen Mediation program provides healing to families in conflict. Your contribution will allow us to carry on and expand our work in these areas. Hope and safety, in our homes and in our neighborhoods, can be restored through your generous support. Any donation is most welcome. You can click on this link to use our PayPal account. Checks made out to CRC can also be sent to:
Conflict Resolution Center
PO Box 187
Soquel CA 95073
Services 