History

Since 2003, the Essex Community Justice Center has provided restorative justice programming with a focus on crime prevention, conflict resolution and meeting the needs of those affected by crime.  Through multiple programs, the Community Justice Center staff and local volunteers support victims, address local crime, and work with offenders to lower their risk of recidivism and enhance community safety. The Essex Community Justice Center is funded through a grant to the Town of Essex by the Department of Corrections/Agency of Human Resources, and contributions by the Town of Essex and Colchester, and through donations from community members.  The Essex Community Justice Center serves Essex, Essex Junction, Westford, Underhill, Jericho, Colchester and Milton.

Community Advisory Board

The Community Advisory Board (CAB) provides community voice and perspective to the ECJC. The CAB supports staff and volunteers in the growth and development of: programs; policies; and procedures.  The work of the CAB is focused in 4 areas;

  • Program Development

  • Outreach and Communications

  • Monitoring and Evaluation

  • Support

The ECJC strives to recruit members who provide representation from both Panel and COSA volunteers as well as community members from the communities we serve.  Current members are;

  • Lindsay Halman — Panel Volunteer and Jericho resident

  • Richard Smiles — Retired School Administrator and Essex Junction resident

  • Andrea Van Liew — Former Director of Community Engagement and Training, Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services and Essex Junction resident

  • Carol Cushing — Behavior Interventionist, Milton School District and Milton resident

  • Tonya Howard — CoSA Volunteer and Underhill resident

  • Andre Roy — Schoolboard Commissioner, EWSD, Panel Volunteer and Westford resident

  • Henry Bonges — Panel Volunteer and Milton resident

  • Erik Post — Panel Volunteer and Essex Resident