Restorative Justice

From FreeHer VT:

We are calling on community members to join us on Monday August 12 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM in Burlington for a noise demonstration calling on local architects to drop out of designing a new women's prison in Vermont!

In these times of suffering, the state should be extremely cautious about how they allocate community resources. Yet, there has been no indication of postponing or canceling the upcoming women’s prison project, which is currently estimated to cost over $70 million. In fact, the Department of Corrections plans to announce the site of the new women’s prison before the end of the summer! In response, FreeHer is preparing to take action so please stay tuned and be ready to plug in!

The first step we are taking is to urge the subcontractor, Freeman French Freeman, to drop the contract! FFF is the local architectural firm contracted to design the women's prison. They have been unresponsive to our communications and requests for meetings, so we are going to make some noise outside of their office in Burlington!

Join us to pressure Freeman French Freeman to DROP THE CONTRACT.

We will be protesting outside Freeman French Freeman on August 12th from 11am-1pm, the local architectural firm contracted to design the new prison, to urge them to withdraw from the project. We will have speakers, music, activities, and more. Please bring pots, pans, instruments, or any noise makers you'd like. 

For more information visit: www.freehercampaign.org/vermont

From Melinda Moulton:

Robert L. Sand joined the faculty at Vermont Law School on a full-time basis in 2016, having served as the Vermont Governor's Liaison to Criminal Justice Programs, the former elected prosecutor (State’s Attorney) for Windsor County, Vermont (a position he held for 15 years), and a visiting professor of criminal law at Vermont Law School. He is a 1980 graduate of Hamilton College and a 1987 graduate of Vermont Law School, magna cum laude, where he served as the managing editor of the Vermont Law Review. He is a past member of the Vermont Law School Board of Trustees.

Mr. Sand is the Founding Director of the Center for Justice Reform at VLS to include spearheading the creation of a Master of Arts in Restorative Justice degree and a Professional Certificate in Restorative Justice. The Center for Justice Reform brings to VLS enhanced curricular attention to cutting-edge criminal justice issues and organizes conferences, presentations, and lectures related to justice reform efforts.

VLS and the Center for Justice Reform hosts the federally funded National Center on Restorative Justice, in partnership with the University of Vermont and the University of San Diego. Sand holds a Certificate in Restorative Justice Facilitation and Leadership from the University of San Diego.

Ben Joseph interviews staff from the Franklin Grand Isle Restorative Justice Center.

Harmony Bourgeois - Executive Director

Courtney Whittemore - Director of Re-Entry Services

For more info: fgirjc.org/home

Judge Ben Joseph talks to Diane Wheeler about the Restorative Justice model.