2020 & 2021 Annual Report

Community Resilience & Innovation

Message from Executive Director Shalene Onyango

Dear Friends,

LCJP’s last two years, enriched by community resilience and innovation, have strengthened the program’s nearly 30 year legacy of providing restorative services and training. LCJP met the challenges of the 2020 global pandemic by maintaining connection with volunteers, clients and community partners. To mitigate feelings of separateness and feelings of isolation, LCJP migrated the organization’s restorative practices to online platforms. The organization’s theme for 2020 was, undoubtedly, community resilience.

LCJP bounded into 2021 with an eagerness for innovation. We were, and remain, particularly motivated by the nation-wide calls for criminal justice reform after George Floyd’s murder; and believe restorative justice is one of the most powerful criminal justice reform mechanisms we have. Determined to make restorative justice services available to more youth in Longmont, LCJP strengthened its partnership with the City of Longmont’s REWiND program. The REWiND program diverts youth away from the traditional court system and offers preventative interventions, resources and support to youth that have had interactions with law enforcement. This partnership translates to an expansion of Longmont’s pre-file diversion services for youth.

Before REWiND, LCJP was the only agency offering pre-file diversion services. Thanks to LCJP and REWiND’s partnership, all youth in Longmont who meet the criteria will be diverted from adjudication in Longmont’s municipal court. Instead of attending a court arraignment, youth will be screened by trained professional staff, asked to take accountability for their actions, and matched with the resources to best meet their needs. We are proud to be a part of this innovative program and serve as a model for other communities seeking to implement this type of criminal justice reform.

LCJP’s donors and supporters made their excitement for LCJP clear through their generosity in 2021. In November and December 2021, our community raised $70,000 for LCJP! Despite the challenges of the last couple of years, 2021 was LCJP’s most successful fundraising year in history. As we advance into 2022 with a resilient and innovative staff, we are deeply grateful for the continued support of the LCJP family.

Sincerely,

Shalene Onyango, Executive Director and John Rostykus, Board President

Hearing From Conference Participants

99

cases

128

responsible persons

44

Harmed Parties

100%

Conference Participants Felt Conference Was Fair to Harmed Party

94%

Success rate

Harmed Parties

"Facilitators were very helpful and supportive. Thank you for encouraging me to speak until I felt heard."

"I want to thank LCJP for helping me feel better."

"[The conference] felt very sincere all around."

"I have a different outlook toward [the responsible person] and more respect."

Community Members

"LCJP was very sensitive to the responsible person's needs and what he could realistically handle. He really felt sincere responsibility."

"I appreciated hearing the point of view of the police officer. The facilitator was very skilled, and I believe the responsible person found some relief."

"What a wonderful way to reach out to kids that make a bad choice. It keeps them with a good record, but still holds them accountable."

Responsible Persons

"I felt comfortable and it felt like a safe space."

"I liked hearing from the different members that this mistake was a learning opportunity that I can move on from. I like how the session was handled because I didn't feel like a bad person."

"I never expected this amount of empathy and compassion."

"I am very thankful for this option."

Police Officers

"The opinions of each person were valued. This was my first conference, and I enjoyed taking part in it. I was happy [the Responsible Person] was so involved with the contract."

"This was a good case for restorative justice. I was able to express my concern and [the responsible person] was very sorry. The major effects on her and her family will motivate her to complete her contract."