ThreenewpolicechiefshavejoinedC4RJ’spolicepartners,twoofthemincommunitiesnewtotheprogram:BedfordandStow.ChiefRobertBongiorno

wasappointedinJulytoheadBedford’sPoliceDepart-ment.ChiefJohnFisherbecameCarlisle’schiefinAugust.ChiefWilliamBosworthtooktheleadinStowinApril. ChiefBongiorno,thoughnewtoBedford,isnostrangertorestorativejustice.HebeganhislawenforcementcareerwiththeConcordPoliceDepartment,serving1991–1996.

HethenjoinedtheArlingtonPoliceDepartmentandrosetotherankofcaptain,responsibleforalluniformedpersonnelwithinthedepartment. “Thetraditionalcriminaljusticesystemhasfailedtofullymeetcrimevictim

C ommuni t ie s for Re s tor at i v e Jus t ic e

Responding to cRime in ways that heal, hold accountable, and put Right

I n s p I r e d g I v I n g

donor profilesNikki SpencerCambridge, MA

Q: How did you learn about Com-munities for restorative Justice?In2003,C4RJwasjuststart-

ingupinCarlisleandIsawanadintheMosquito lookingforvolunteers.Iwasinhighschoolandknewthatsomeofmypeersweremakingseri-ousmistakesthatwouldfollowthemfortherestoftheirlives.Ilikedthatrestorativejusticeaskedpeopletotakeownershipofmistakeswhilegivingthemtheopportunitytomoveforwardinlife.IsignedupasavolunteerandI’vetakenpartinsomeinspiringcases.

Q: Why do you choose to invest in C4rJ?Asayoungprofessional,Idon’thavealottoinvest,butI’veseenwhatC4RJcanachievewithalittlesupport.Inrecentyears,C4RJhasgrownrapidly.Ithascontinuallyevaluated,refined,andadapteditspracticeswhileexpandingintoothercommunities.Finally,I’vewatchedtheorganizationprofessionalizewhilekeepingintouchwithitsgrassrootsorigins.

F a l l 2 0 1 1

The Talking Piece

C o n T I n u e D o n P A g e 2C o n T I n u e D o n P A g e 3

Crowd-sourcing, restorative justice styleBy Jennifer Larson Sawin

Recently,nationalPublicRadioairedapieceon“crowd-sourcing”—haveyouheardtheterm?Itdescribeshoworganizationsharnessthetalent,wisdom,andwitofvolunteerstotackleseeminglyimpossibletasks.For

example,asmallresearchgroupaskedvolunteersallovertheworldtoscanaerialpicturesofthousandsofsquaremilestofindthelong-soughtburialgroundsofgenghisKhan. Sowhatdocrowd-sourcingandgenghisKhanhavetodowithC4RJ?For11years,we’veaskedyou,yourneighbors,friends,andfamilytohelpusachievetheimpossible.ourmodestoperationreliesuponyourcontributionstoofferrestorativejusticetopeopleaffectedbycrime.Alongsidenearly100volunteersand12policedepartments,youhavecrowd-sourcedforanoblepurpose. Inthisnewsletter,andinadvanceofourDecemberannualappeal,you’llfindpeoplewhohavehelpeduscrowd-source.SteveBloomfieldandMelissaAppersonarelong-committeddonors.nikkiSpencerisayoungvolunteerandfirst-time2011donor.Thesethreekeepcompanywithamotherwhocalledmelastmonth.Sheremindedmethathersonwasreferredtousthreeyearsago;theprocesswasmeaningfulbutatthetime,shewasunabletothankuswith adonationduetofinancialstraits.nowthatshewasonfirmerfooting,shewantedtoofferagift.Thesearetheconversationsthatgiveuspause,andthatremindusofthemightycrowdholdingusaloft.

C4rJ Welcomes new partners

Chief Bongiorno

SchoolofPolicyandglobalStudiesatuMass-Bostononthisresearch.Bothoftheseendeavorswillbetterpositionusformunicipal,state,andfederalsupportinthefuture. AsamemberofC4RJ’sDevelop-mentCommittee,Brecmodeledhowfarasimple,meaningfulrequestforsupportcango.Heregularlyspokeabouthisownpassionforrestor-ativejusticeamonghisfriends.BeforeandafterBrec’spassing,wehavereceivedmanygiftsinhisname. WeextendoursympathiestohiswifeMelissaandthefamily;wecommittohonoringhiminourwork.

C4RJ: The Talking Piece |FA L L 2011 |PAge2

DonorProfilescontinued from page 1

eventhoughIcanonlymakesmalldo-nationsatthispoint,IknowIdon’tneedtogivemuchtokeepthismomentumgoing.

Q: In what ways do you see your community benefiting?I’veseenoffendersturntheirlivesaroundandembracetheideaofbeingpartofacommunity.I’vegrownupatthesametimeasmanyoftheyouthI’veworkedwithoncases,andIknowthatmanyofthethingsthey’velearnedatC4RJaboutdecision-makingandresponsibilityhavestuck.nowthatIliveinCambridgeandworkinBoston,I’mexcitedthatC4RJisgarneringinterestfromurbantowns.Ican’twaittotakepartinacaseinmynewcommunity!

Q: What would you tell a friend about C4rJ?Thismodelworks,andweshoulddoeverythingtohelpitexpand,whetherthatmeansvolunteering,donating,orsimplyspreadingtheword.Attheveryleast,I’ve“liked”C4RJonFacebookandyoushouldtoo!

remembering albrecht “Brec” saalfieldC4RJFriendandBoardMember

Steven B. Bloomfield and Melissa AppersonConcord, MA

Q: How did you learn about Communities for restorative Justice?Someyearsago,throughsemi-narsonpeace

andreconciliationatHarvarduniversity,welearnedaboutProf.CarolynBoyes-WatsonandherCenterforRestorativeJusticeatSuffolkuniversity.Aroundthattime,welearnedthatC4RJwasgrowinginourmidst.ThenwemetthelateDicknethercutt.*Hisstruggleafteraheinouscrime—andhowthatprocessspurredhisrestorativecapacities—movedusandchallengedourassumptionsaboutjustice.Later,welearnedofarestorativejusticecaseinConcordwhereyouthmettheshopownerswhosepropertiestheyhaddefaced.Wewereespeciallyimpres-sedthatConcordpolicecommittedtheirmoralandlegalauthoritytothecause.

Q: Why do you invest in C4rJ?Verysimply,wehavefoundtherestor-ativeideatobecreative,generative,andinspiring.Wealsounderstandthatsmallamountscansupportbigendeavors.Wewantedtoaddourvoicestoahumane,community-basedmovement.

Q: In what ways do you see your community benefiting?Reckoningcorrectlywithwrongdoingrequiresthoughtfulreflection.Theop-tionsofapologyandrestorationmustallbepartofacommunity’sarrayofsolu-tionstodifficultproblems.Acommunitywithoutrestorativejusticeisacommunityillservedtomeetthefullnessofitschal-lenges.TheregionisfarmorecivilizedforC4RJ’spresence.

Q: What would you tell a friend about C4rJ?C4RJpromotescivicvirtuebyestablish-ingwiseandjustpracticesthatarebothdeeplyrootedandvisionary.Theorgani-zationisalaboratoryfortheexerciseofcourage.

OnSeptember16th,wesadlymarkedthepassingofadearfriend.BrecwasaConcordresident,astalwart

advocateforrestorativejustice,andhadbeenactiveinC4RJ’sgenesisin2000.Hisexperienceasafamilylawattor-ney,teacher,coach,andprincipalinformedhispassionforthiswork.Heprickleduponhearingjokesofne’er-do-welllawyers;hesawhimselfina“helpingprofession.” Whileonourboard(2009–2011),BrecencouragedustodraftrestorativejusticelegislationwiththesupportofSen.Jamieeldridge(D-Acton).Healsopushedustodemonstratethecostsavingsthatrestorativejusticeoffersthecriminaljusticesystem.ThankstothesupportoftheSudburyFoundation,C4RJispartneringwithMcCormackgraduate

*Richard“Dick”nethercuttwasalong-timeadvocateforrestorativejusticeandadearfriendtoC4RJ.Hisdaughter,Jaina,wasrapedandmurderedinSeattlein1978.Yearslater,Dickparticipatedinarestorativedialoguewithaproxyoffenderwhichbroughtprofoundhealingforbothofthem.Mr.nethercuttpassedawayin2009.

Chief Fisher

abasketballcoachandhasvolunteeredforsixyearsspeakingtohighschoolstudentsaboutsafedriving. ChiefBosworthhasbeenwiththeStowPoliceDepartmentfor27years.HehasservedastheDepartment’sDomesticViolenceAdvocate/LiaisonwiththeDomesticViolenceServicenetwork.

C4RJ: The Talking Piece |FA L L 2011 |PAge3

Facts and Figures: 2011 at a glanceWheredoesthesupportgo?Here’sarecapof2011thusfar.Withafewmonthstogoin2011,weknowthesenumberswillrise.

Individuals served–115 • offenders–85 • Victims–30

age of offenders–13–56yearsold

Communities served1–10 • Acton,Arlington,Ayer,Boxborough, Cambridge,Carlisle,Concord, everett,gilford(nH),2Littleton

Community service hours to local charities–inexcessof300 • Manyoffendersagreeto“buildup” whatwastorndownwiththecrime committed.Theyserveatlocalfood banks,councilsonaging,faith centers,andareaparks.

Types of crimes referred • Trespass • Larceny(shoplifting) • Breakingandentering • Minorinpossessionofalcohol • Possessionofillegaldrugs • Vandalism • Creditcardfraud • Maliciousdestructionofproperty

Cases with reduced participation fee3–10

volunteers trained–60 • newvolunteers–20 • experiencedvolunteers (workshops)–40

needs.TheBedfordPoliceDepartmentinpartnershipwiththecommunityseesrestorativejusticeasawaytoaddressvictimneedsandtreatoffendersinanewway,”BongiornosaidinannouncinghisintenttoworkwithC4RJ. ChiefFishercomestoCarlislefromnashua,nH,whereheservedfor22years,mostrecentlyattherankofcaptain.Heengagedinseveralareasofpoliceworkinnashua,includingtheProfes-sionalStandardsDivision.Fisherisanavidrugbyplayerandcyclist.HehastaughtcoursesinpolicemanagementandcriminaljusticeatRogerWilliamsuniversityandRivierCollege.Fisherhasalsoworkedextensivelywithyouthas

Chief Bosworth

WelovesharingourworkwithyouthroughThe Talking Piece,e-blasts,andnewspapers.C4RJnowserves12regionalcommunities,andrefer-

ralskeepgrowing.Yoursupporthelpsusmeettheneedsofthoseaffectedbycrime.Youmightalsoconsiderproviding:

• Anew(orgentlyused)laptopformobilecase-relateduse• Frequentflyermilesforstaffconferences• SponsorshipofThe Talking Piecequarterlynewsletter• Supportcostsforaguestspeaker• Financialsupporttofundaqualitativelongitudinalstudy• Anew(orgentlyused)laserprintertoimproveofficenetwork• earmarkedsupporttovictimsandoffenderswhoneedcounseling orotherservices

Letusknowhowyouwouldliketohelp.Visitourwebsiteatwww.c4rj.com/giving.phporcontactexecutiveDirectorJenniferLarsonSawinat978.318.3447or jlarsonsawin@c4rj.com.

newPartnerscontinued from page 1

1 ThecommunitiesofBedfordandStowjoinedC4RJinrecentweeksandweanticipatecasereferralsinthiscalendaryear.

2 Thereferralfromgilfordwasanomalous:theindividualfacingchargeswasavisitorfromoneofC4RJ’scommunitiessothegilfordpolicereferredthemattertous.

2 C4RJasksoffenderstopayaparticipationfeeof$200towardthecostofadministeringcases.Thissum,althoughlowerthanouractualcosts,isalsofarlessthanwould-becourtcosts.Itsignifiesacommitmenttoengageintheprocess.C4RJoffersasliding-scaleoptionforfinancialhardship.C4RJalsomakesgrantfundsavailabletovictimsoroffendersinneedofcounselingservicesthatwouldotherwisebeoutofreachfinancially.

How you can help

“Restorative justice is

a way to address victim

needs and treat offenders

in a new way.”

“Aschief,IwantedtogetinvolvedwithC4RJtoenhanceourdealingswiththecommunity.Wewanttobeabletogivepeoplewhohavemadeamistakeasecondchancetomakerightontheirwrong,andtobeabletogivethevictimasayintheprocessofdealingwithapersonwhowrongedthem,”saidBosworth. Welookforwardtoworkingwiththesechiefs,theirdepartments,andthecommunitiestheyserve.

Communities for Restorative JusticeP.o.Box65,Concord,MA01742

www.c4rj.com

non-PRoFIToRg.u.S.PoSTAge

paIdLeoMInSTeR,MA

PeRMITno.17

Printedonrecycledpaper

I n s I d e T H I s Fa l l 2011 I s s u e :• Crowd-sourcing,restorativejusticestyle• DonorProfiles• C4RJWelcomesnewPartners• RememberingAlbrecht“Brec”Saalfield• Howyoucanhelp

Communities for restorative Justice (C4rJ) is a community-police partnership that offers restorative justice to those affected by crime. restorative justice recognizes that crime is a violation of people and relationships, not just a violation of law. police refer cases to us. In the aftermath of wrongdoing, our “circle” process includes in the decision-making those affected by crime: victims, offenders, loved ones, supporters, community members, and law enforcement officials. This newsletter, The Talking Piece, is named for an object (often a river stone) passed around the circle to engage individuals in the deliberations. The person holding the talking piece speaks while others listen. With this newsletter, we are passing the talking piece to you and would love to hear your views on our work. Contact us at info@c4rj.com or by calling 978.318.3447 to relay your thoughts.

go green!Help us save on paper, printing, and mail costs by opting for our e-newsletter instead our snail mail newsletter. visit www.c4rj.com and click on the button that reads “sign up for our e-newsletter.”

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