Restorative Justice Project Maine

Training and Capacity Building:Our Training and Capacity building team provides internal training to RJP Maine program staff and volunteers, and external training for school and organizational partners. Offerings include: 42 Hour UMaine Foundations in Restorative Practices; Foundations for RJP Maine volunteers; and Harm Repair Practice Series (up to 76 hours of training)External partners, such as schools and institutions, enter into agreements for training and ongoing coaching to help build their capacity to use restorative practices. Before they engage with our programs, all RJP Maine volunteers go through the 10 hour Foundation class, and facilitators continue on to a 24 hour Harm Repair Series. Number of people trained in RJP Maine 42 Foundation of Restorative Practices class through the UMaine Hutchinson Center:101. Partner Schools and Institutions:13. Number of public school personal trained in Foundation in Restorative Practices:37.Number of public school personal trained in Harm Repair: 15 (combined total of 630 hours of training.)

Brynes Criminal Justice Innovation Grant: Rather than seeking to reform the current legal system, Community Justice Hubs create an alternative justice infrastructure led by local communities so that any may seek a restorative response. Highlights-4 County's office's Established: Belfast, Rockland, Damariscotta and Bath. 23 Listening Sessions in which 148 Community members attended, 39 volunteer steering team members.RJP Maine provides restorative solutions in response to juvenile offenses in Hancock, Waldo, Knox, Lincoln, and Sagadahoc Counties; serving about 65 youths per year in partnership with the Department of Corrections; this program engages over 500 community members in this process annually.RJP Maine provides restorative solutions in response to adult offenses in Waldo, Knox, and Lincoln Counties; we are working to secure funding to expand adult services across our service area. Current capacity is funded by grants. Approximately 47 adult offenders are referred to this process annually; thus just over 220 community members are engaged in responding to crime/harm caused by adults in the community setting. Maine Youth Court also has a contract for $365,000 with the DOC providing similar programs in the Portland and Lewiston area.

MCRRC:For more than 10 years, RJP Maine has provided restorative services to the Maine Coastal Regional Reentry Center through a unique collaboration with the Waldo County Sheriff and Volunteers of America. We train and support the MCRCC staff and residents to use restorative practices within the institution as a non-adversarial, solution focused way to problem solve conflicts and infractions. RJP Maine provides group programming for all residents at the center and jail. 95% of residents have participated in introductions to Restorative Justice. Recidivism for the center is 27% compared to statewide average of 58%. MCRRC is providing Restorative practice classes and mentors for the residents - a $42,000 contract with Volunteers of America. Additional income from donations.