Communities for Restorative Justice (C4RJ) is a growing nonprofit that partners with 27 cities and towns, their police departments, and the offices of the Middlesex county, Suffolk county, and Northwestern District Attorneys to rebuild trust and offer a path forward in the wake of crime. We listen to victims, hold responsible parties accountable, and restore trust in communities. Our volunteer-led "circle" dialogue is called restorative justice. It's personal. It's powerful. And it's why C4RJ is a proven, effective option within the justice system.
We receive police and district attorney referrals and seek to include the people affected by crime in decision-making: victims (impacted parties), offenders (responsible parties), loved ones, supporters, community members, and law enforcement officials.
C4RJ took its first case in 2000 and has since worked with over 1,500 people impacted by crime.
Our organization is driven by trained volunteers, is guided by a board of directors from the communities we serve, and employs an executive director four staff members and two fellows.
In 2013, C4RJ produced a film about our work called "Finding Courage: Addressing Harm with Restorative Justice Circles." Click below to watch a 15-minute clip about restorative justice and the circle process:
