GREETINGS ALL!

Our coordinating council is made up of a collaboration of approximately 35 volunteers throughout Illinois representing the judiciary, prosecutor and defense attorneys, law enforcement, probation, corrections, schools, community and faith-based organizations, including both victim and offender advocates. There are over 300 people on our list serve in Illinois who are involved with restorative justice in one way or another.

We hope that you find this website helpful in providing you with state-wide information on trainings, technical assistance, and other resources and practices in Illinois, as well as to connect you with other restorative justice practitioners

OUR MONTHLY MEMO

All of you are welcome to attend our IBARJI Coordinating Council meetings, but we know it is difficult for you to do that.  So, as we have mentioned before, our IBARJI Coordinating Council, who used to meet every other month in Paxton, has changed that tradition.  We have decided to move our meetings around the state.  Last month in March was our very first attempt at doing that.  And we felt it was a huge success – thanks to the hard work of several people in the 15th Circuit, most notably Tom Schwamberger and Mary Huffman.  It was nice to have the additional new people in attendance mostly from the 15th Circuit, but also from the surrounding area who normally wouldn’t travel to Paxton for a meeting.  The 15th Circuit folks put on a showcase for everyone sharing what restorative justice practices are going on up there in the northwest corner of the state. 

We’d like to share some of the notes from our meeting as well as notes from Mary highlighting their part in the day’s program.  Be sure to read (below) what is happening in the 15th, and if you have the opportunity to be in the area be sure to check out the mural inside the courthouse in Dixon.

It was reported that IBARJI continues to work in collaboration with the Pathways Juvenile Justice Collaboration who sponsored the Collaborative Conference last fall.  Plans are underway now for regional conferences this fall.  This is being done due to requests from participants who asked that we have regional opportunities for more people to attend.  With our emphasis on collaboration, this seems like a reasonable request, so those will be “happening” this fall.  Stay tuned.  We will also be planning a full statewide conference next spring.  Dates and details haven’t been set yet.

We had a great conversation regarding what is happening around the state and where do we want to go from here.  How do we take the next step with community engagement?  It is interesting to see how restorative justice and more specifically BARJ principles are developing all over the state.  We have better community engagement and limited system engagement in some places, and better system engagement in other places where there seems to be limited community engagement.  We had a great discussion on using the “World Café” model of conversations that matter in increasing community engagement.

There also is quite a variety of involvement from various school systems.  One of the items we want to pursue is getting the word out about success stories where schools are involved. 
One of the ways we want to communicate what is going on across Illinois is through our website.  Currently we are looking at ways to upgrade it.  We especially want to make the “Where can you find BARJ in Illinois?” more accessible, informative and user friendly.

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has recently published their research on what the community wants from the system.  More information about that report can be found at http://www.modelsforchange.net and http://www.modelsforchange.net/pdfs/jjpressreleasefinal.pdf

There continue to be monthly circle trainings held in Chicago and sponsored/facilitated by Community Justice for Youth, Inc.  More information can be received from Margaret Hughes at Margaret@cjyi.org

Our next meeting will be held in Mt. Vernon on May 8.  In July we hold our annual retreat, so our next regular meeting of the IBARJI Coordinating Council will be September 11, with plans for that meeting to be in Cook County.  Mark your calendars. 

Here is a summary of the 15th Circuit’s showcase from Mary Huffman and Tom Schwamberger:
15th Judicial Circuit BARJ Showcase

Introduction to Mac Arthur Foundation: Greg Martin presented how they were able to secure Mac Arthur Funding to enhance existing programs in Ogle County.  They have hired an Executive Director of the Ogle County Juvenile Justice Council and hired a Restorative Justice Officer.  This has been beneficial in getting the county programs which follow Restorative Justice Practices.  Janet Kacvinsky, Ogle County Restorative Justice Officer is in charge of the Victim Offender Program.  Janet is also employed with the Lee/Ogle Regional Office which helps link the schools with the judicial system.  Sherri Egan, Executive Director of the Ogle County Juvenile Justice Council comes in with a background in working with the community and brings those ties into the council to help promote Restorative Justice Practices within the community.

Ogle County Presentation: Mike Dale, Director of Focus House and Liz Rickert did a presentation on what is being done at Focus House.  A brief video was shown with the residents discussing how the Peace Circles have impacted their lives.  Focus House has begun using Peace Circles with the youth in their residence program and found out how beneficial they have become.  They had a snow day and the youth asked the counselors if they could do a Peace Circle to plan out the days activities.    Greg Martin shared that he was not fond of Peace Circles but since they have begun at Focus House he has been converted to believe how beneficial they have become.  One of the youth came to the counselors and wanted to be a leader in having a Peace Circle.  It has shown the youth how to share, resolve problems, help others, and become leaders.

Stephenson/Carroll County: Gary Eilders presented that Stephenson County has Kelvin McGee as their Restorative Justice Officer.  One program implemented in Stephenson County that has been successful is the Youth Becoming Leaders Program, founder Matt Gargano did a presentation of this program which works closely with the community and schools in providing the youth with better alternatives. This is a grass roots organization with their mission being:  “…to create a national model so that unclaimed youth across the country can be offered the hope, love, and direction they so rightly deserve, but not given.”   This program works with youth from 12-21 that are considered high risk and have problems in school, peers, and families.  The program provides tutoring, mentoring, and life skills which include leadership development, community service, peer centered activities.  The program also offers the support services of adult mentoring, follow up services, comprehensive guidance, counseling, and substance abuse counseling.    The program has 4 “Success Tracks: Track 1 “Back on Track” works with the schools and youth to get them integrated back into the school environment; Track 2 “GED/Employment Obtainment” working with Highland Community College in assisting the youth in obtaining a GED and work on career seeking skills; Track 3 “Building a Bridge” a follow up program with the youth up to age 21 in providing help with career making decisions, college enrollment, and general advocacy; Track 4 “AD” this newest track working as an alternative to detention program.  More detailed information can be found on their website: youthbecomingleaders.org.  Carroll County: was represented by Kyle Simons who is the Restorative Justice Officer and Adult Officer in Carroll County.

Jo Daviess County Presentation: A representative was unavailable from Jo Daviess, Tom Schwamberger spoke on their behalf.  Jo Davies has an active Juvenile Justice Council and began a Victim Offender Program in which community volunteers were trained to become facilitators.  Jo Davies Juvenile Justice Council also held a fund raiser with the local police department challenging the youth to a basketball game.  The proceeds from the fund raiser were used to do a presentation to the local schools on internet safety and methamphetamine use.  This has been able to establish positive relationships between the Jo Davies Probation and Juvenile Justice Council with the schools, law enforcement, and the community.  It has been a great way to promote Restorative Justice Practices to the community.

Dixon Peer Jury: Dixon Police Department School Resource Officer Jason LaMendola presented on the Dixon Police Department Peer Jury Program which began in February, 2007.  The peer jury meets once a month on Sunday evenings to hear a maximum of 3 new cases and make decisions on the type of sanction which will be given the youth.  They will also review existing case to determine the progress the youth are making in achieving their sanctions.  Once a youth successfully completes the peer jury they are invited to participate in the training and become a part of the peer jury.  The peer jury night begins with pizza and social time of half an hour.  Then the cases are reviewed prior to the youth coming before them.  Officer LaMendola has learned to ask the youth fewer questions and allow the jury to do the majority of the questions.  When he first began he would ask a great deal of questions and then when the youth came before the jury they would be less talkative.  He has also learned that he does not give the jury as much information so they will be more actively asking questions.  The youth on the jury have a 7 hour training they must complete.  They are in charge of the time when they hold the jury, ask questions, make decisions, and make sure the involved youth complete their sanctions.  Some of the sanctions used: mentoring from fellow peers, community service work—that is referred to Probation to set up, learning project with local retail store, Shopko where the minor has to interview the manager on how retail theft impacts the store and those who shop at the store.

Mural Project Tour-Lee County Probation:  Mary Huffman, Lee County Probation Restorative Justice gave a brief history of how the project began.  As Restorative Justice Officer one duty is to develop Public Service for both juveniles and adults.  This project began by speaking to area art teachers at the high school and junior high.  Mary had a connection with the Junior High Art teacher because of taking an art class with the teacher who is also a professional artist.  This led to a discussion with Deb Thompson, Reagan Middle School Art teacher, and her daughter, Arin Thompson both an artist and creative writer.  They agreed to participate in this project along with area artist Jayne Rose.  Probation fees were used to pay their fee and art supplies.  The program began with 6 youth and two dropped out during the process.  Nicki Saathoff gave the group a tour of the mural project.  The youth involved were from Nicki’s caseload and she actually helped out in painting the mural due to Mary being out for medical leave.  It was a great chance for Nicki to interact with the youth on her caseload in a different way.  When the mural was completed a reception was held and the youth and mural were given front page newspaper coverage.  Arin also wrote a professional article on the process.  Jayne Rose did a blog of the process as well which can be found at: themuralproject.wordpress.com.  This year will be a second mural project in a conference room of the Probation Department used by various court personnel and also where the Juvenile Justice Council is held.  This has been a great way to get the youth involved in a positive project and connected with the community as well.  It taught them a great deal on their own potential.