The Essex Community Justice Center is a partnership between citizens and government to address the effects of crime at the community level.

FIVE Reasons Why Community Volunteers are ESSENTIAL

to the Restorative Justice Panel Process

  1. Volunteers PROVIDE A VOICE as Affected Parties for all crimes that are committed in their communities.

  2. Volunteers CREATE CAPACITY necessary to provide panels across the state. The Vermont Department of Corrections (DOC) and Community Justice Centers (CJCs) don’t have the resources to makes panels happen on their own.

  3. Volunteers FOSTER A RESTORATIVE ENVIRONMENT for Responsible Parties and Affected Parties by showing that fellow community members care about their outcomes and want to support them as they move forward.

  4. Volunteers OFFER DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES on how crime impacts the community through their unique experiences and approaches to implementing the process.

  5. Volunteers STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS through their commitment to better understanding their community’s needs, supporting others to move forward, and becoming leaders in Restorative Justice initiatives.

If you are interested in volunteering, please review our Volunteer Recruitment Policy and complete our Volunteer Application. Applications can be e-mailed to Susanna Weller at sweller@essex.org.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Restorative Justice Panels:  Volunteer on a Monday or Thursday evening or on Tuesday mid-day on a team of 4-5 to support the restorative process for victims and offenders.  Panels are currently held in Essex, Colchester and Milton. To learn more contact Susanna Weller at sweller@essex.org or (802)876-6792 and click on the link for our RJ Volunteer Job Description.

COSA:  Volunteer at least once a week for a year on a team of 4-5 to support an offender’s reentry and positive integration into the community. Contact Stacy Jones at sjones@essex.org or (802)876-6793 and click on the link to view the COSA Volunteer Job Description.

CAB: Serve as a Community Advisory Board (CAB) Member for the Essex Community Justice Center. The CAB meets quarterly and is meant to reflect the clients and communities we serve. CAB works together with ECJC staff to further the mission of the ECJC by;

  • Influencing program development and growth of ECJC.

  • Promoting the work of the ECJC.

  • Supporting volunteers and staff in their roles.

Contact Jill Evans, Director, for more information at (802)876-6791 or jevans@essex.org