To provide mediation services at five juvenile courts and support Juvenile Review Boards (JRB) around Connecticut to resolve conflicts between low-level offenders and the victims of their crimes in order to divert the cases from the court and to provide restorative justice practices to address crime and violence. The offender must take responsibility for the harm done and comply with the terms of the agreement or the case may be returned to court. This grant provides $25,000 toward the costs associated with the merger of DSC with RYASAP, a community action organization. DSC partners with the Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance and the Bridgeport Juvenile Review Board, for whom RYASAP serves as fiduciary, to address juvenile justice issues in the community. The JRB is a panel of local members who handle the cases of low-level offenders referred by police, Probation, schools and the community for diversion from court.
