About us
The BCJC is a community organization where citizens
can work together to find ways to resolve conflict
constructively, using primarily Restorative
Justice principles and practices.
The Justice Center supports this work by providing
structured opportunities to victims, offenders,
and other individuals or groups affected by harm
or wrong-doing in the community to meet and communicate.
History
and Funding: The Brattleboro Community Justice Center opened
its doors in 2003 as a partnership of the Town
of Brattleboro , the Vermont
Department of Corrections , and the citizens
of the community.
The BCJC funding comes through two grants awarded
by the Vermont Agency of Human Services and an
in-kind match by the Town of Brattleboro . The
Justice Center also relies on additional funding
(from foundations, tax-exempt donations, etc.)
in order to deliver a full compliment of services
to the community.
Community Justice Network of Vermont
The state of Vermont is unique in the network
of Community Justice Centers that sprung up from
the initial grant funds from the Agency of Human
Services. While some programs are consistent
throughout the State, each Justice Center has
its own unique ways of meeting community needs.
Click here to learn more about all of the Community Justice Centers in Vermont.
Our Partnerships and
Collaborators
The Brattleboro Community Justice Center works with the following service providers in our community:
Youth Services
School for International Training
Brattleboro Police Department
State Attorney's Office
Victim's Advocate Office
Probation and Parole
Turning Point of Windham County
ALANA
Voc Rehab
Southeast Vermont Community Action
Brattleboro Housing Authority
Town of Brattleboro Selectboard ~ all town offices
Agency of Human Services district office
Building a Better Brattleboro
Brattleboro Reformer
BCTV
Brooks Memorial Library
BUHS
Vermont Partnership for Fairness and Diversity
Vermont Humanities Council
area Churches
NEYT New England Youth Theater
Justice Center Activities:
- Activities at the Justice Center provide
for increased safety to the community by involving
the offender in repairing harm done to victims
and affected others.
- Restorative Justice creates an opportunity
for awareness of how crimes and other offenses
affect victims and the community, and how the
offender can make right the wrongs.
- Activities at the Justice Center give the
wrongdoer the opportunity to fully understand
the impact of their behavior on the victim
and community and to take responsibility for
causing harm by addressing the needs of the
victim, affected others, and the community.
- Activities at the Justice Center provide
a framework for addressing harms and tears
in the social fabric of the community.
Grounding Principles:
- Wrong-doing and disputes are best resolved
in the communities where they occur.
- Victims have special needs and their voices
ought to be heard; these should be the center
of the justice process.
- Offenders need to fully understand the impact
of the crime and have the opportunity to express
remorse and repair the harm done to the victim
and the community.
- Community members have the right to participate
and engage in the matters of justice that affect
their quality of life and to create a safer
place to live and have a sense that their concerns
are heard and respected.
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