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THE LONGMONT POLICE DEPARTMENT sends the majority of referrals which come to Longmont Community Justice Partnership (LCJP). Officers may exercise their own discretion and refer an offender to LCJP rather than issuing a summons. There are no restrictions regarding age, type of offense, or the past criminal history of the offender. The offender must accept responsibility for the crime and agree to participate in restorative justice process. Parental permission is required for juveniles to participate. Chief Michael Butler is an ardent supporter of restorative justice and sits on the LCJP Advisory Board. LCJP is housed in the Safety and Justice Building to make LCJP accessible to officers and the general public.
THE ST. VRAIN VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT serves approximately 24,000 students in 43 schools. Community Group Conferencing (CGC) has been used in lieu of an expulsion and to avert progression to the next step of an expulsion plan. CGC has also been used as an alternative to traditional discipline procedures in some cases involving serious rule violations. Peacemaking Circles are being used in several middle and high schools to resolve conflicts among students some of which are gang-related. Don Haddad, Assistant Superintendent for Secondary,Instruction, serves on the Advisory Board of LCJP. KG Campanella-Green, Student Assistance Services Coordinator, is a member of the restorative justice Training Collaboration.
LONGMONT MUNICIPAL COURTS AND PROBATION The municipal court and probation handles youth and adults offenders who have violated municipal laws. The court and probation may send adjudicated offenders to LCJP to participate in restorative processes. Restorative Justice may be court ordered to benefit the offender as a part of his or her probation, or it may be ordered for the benefit of the victim. The court also contracts with LCJP to provide Saturday classes on Restorative Decision Making, which are offered in both English and Spanish. Judge Diana VanDeHey, Prosecutor Rod Rangel and Senior Probation Officer Greg Wagner serve on the Advisory Board of LCJP.
CLEARVIEW EDUCATIONAL CENTER is a community-based, alternative school for students who have been suspended or expelled from the St. Vrain Valley School District. Community Group Conferencing is used to resolve serious violations of school rules at Clearview and as a vehicle to "clear the air" for reentry into the public school after the term of suspension or expulsion has expired. The Executive Director of Alternatives for Youth, which is the parent organization of Clearview, serves on the Advisory Board of LCJP.
TEACHING PEACE is the lead partner and provides the administration of the project. Teaching Peace is a private, not-for-profit agency whose mission is violence prevention. Teaching Peace was founded in 1994 by Beverly Title and Lana Leonard. Beverly is Project Director for LCJP, and Lana is now doing restorative justice work in Sedona, AZ. Jennifer Brown is the CFO, and Summer Deaton is the newest Teaching Peace partner in charge of operations and training.
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