Corrections_Today_Summer_2024_Vol.86_No.2

NIJ UPDATE

A restorative justice approach emphasizes the need to repair the harm caused by the action. When all stakeholders — victims, those who committed the offense, the community, and criminal

justice officials — participate, healing can occur. 3 A restorative approach holds those who com mit offenses accountable for their actions. It is an approach that has been embraced by Western

European and Scandinavian correc tional systems to create real change in individuals, reduce conflict between officers and incarcerated populations, and support those returning to their communities. 4 →

RESTORING PROMISE PILOT SITES Seven correctional institutions in five states currently operate Restoring Promise programs. Vera and MILPA selected each facility for evaluation after an application process.

Institution and Restoring Promise Unit Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility| Change Maker’s Village

State

Established

Description

The Change Maker’s Village, housed at Colorado’s Arkansas Valley Cor rectional Facility, is a medium-security facility for men. Eleven mentors work with 60 young adults. During the day, nine staff are on the unit. Connecticut’s T.R.U.E. (Truthfulness, Respectfulness, Understanding, and El evating) unit, housed within the Cheshire Correctional Institution, is the longest running Restoring Promise site. Cheshire is a maximum-security facility for men. In 2021, Cheshire expanded to a second housing unit. Twenty-five mentors work with 100 young adults on the unit. During the day, 12 to 15 staff are on the unit. Connecticut houses the only Restoring Promise site at a women’s prison. W.O.R.T.H. (Women Overcoming Recidivism Through Hard Work) exists at York Correctional Institution. York is a maximum-security facility for women. Eight mentors work with 30 young adults on the unit. During the day, eight staff are on the unit. The Middlesex Jail and House of Correction is the only jail in the Restoring Prom ise initiative. P.A.C.T. stands for People Achieving Change Together. In general, six mentors work with 35 young adults. During the day, four staff are on the unit. U.N.I.T.Y. (Using Natural Integrity for Teaching Youth) Village is located at North Dakota State Penitentiary, a maximum security for men. Fifteen men tors work with 45 young adults. During the day, 6 staff are on the unit. Cadre of H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Evolve) is housed at Lee Correctional Institute, a maximum-security prison for men. The average sentence for young adults at the Lee Correctional Institute is 18 years, and 85% of young men at Lee are Black — higher than the national average for similar offenses. Fifteen mentors work with 56 young men. During the day, two to three staff are on the unit. The C.O.R.E. (Community Opportunity Restoration Enhancement) Village, housed at South Carolina’s Turbeville Correctional Institute, is a medium security facility for men. C.O.R.E. is designed for young adults sentenced under a state law that allows judges to give either a sentence of less than three years or specialized parole supervision. Fifteen mentors work with 50 young men in the unit. During the day, two to three staff are on the unit.

Colorado

2021

Cheshire Correctional Institution | T.R.U.E. Unit

Connecticut

2017

York Correctional Institution | Women Overcoming Recidivism Through Hard Work (W.O.R.T.H.)

Connecticut

2018

Middlesex Sheriff’s Office | P.A.C.T. Community

Massachusetts

2018

North Dakota State Penitentiary | U.N.I.T.Y. Village

North Dakota

2022

Lee Correctional Institution | Cadre of H.O.P.E.

South Carolina

2019

Turbeville Correctional Institution | C.O.R.E. Village

South Carolina

2018

Summer 2024 | Corrections Today

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