Volunteer Opportunites
Why Volunteer?
Volunteering in restorative justice can be a rewarding experience, contributing to positive community engagement, conflict resolution, and a reduced rate of recidivism. Volunteers help to foster healing, address underlying causes of criminal behaviors, and focus on supporting the needs of victims. If you have a desire to serve your community through a restorative lens and want to volunteer with us please reach out to: Courtney Martel at courtney.martel@fgirjc.org or 802-528-9896.
Community Advisory Board (CAB)
The Franklin Grand Isle Restorative Justice Center (FGIRJC) is looking for volunteers to serve on our Community Advisory Board. (CAB) The CAB exists to provide advice and to participate in the decisions that reflect community priorities and restorative justice principles. Franklin Grand Isle RJC responds to the stated needs and priorities of the residents of Franklin and Grand Isle counties by creating opportunities for meaningful engagement in order to prevent and address harm and build a safe and inclusive community. The CAB advises on agency policy and priorities in collaboration with the Executive Director and the City of St. Albans.
COSA
Members of a Circle of Support and Accountability (CoSA) work as a team of three or more volunteers with one Core Member - someone returning to Franklin and Grand Isle Community from incarceration. CoSA Volunteers meet regularly with the Core Member to provide support and mentoring, while ensuring that the Core Member is accountable for their actions. Core Members who are accepted into the program will have expressed a desire to change and must be committed to following the guidelines of the program. CoSA Volunteers will also work with other community stakeholders to establish expectations for the Core Member with regard to behaviors, responsibilities and community public safety.
The Volunteer commitment to the program and Core Member is for one year. The CoSA team meets for one hour per week and volunteers are encouraged to spend one-on-one time with the Core Member once a relationship has been established. Training for volunteers consists of a one-time CoSA training (in-person or remote) that is required prior to interacting with a Core Member. A Vermont Department of Corrections volunteer orientation and site-specific training are required every 2 years. Additional training is encouraged as needed. In some cases, we may be able to form a CoSA team before the Core Member is released from incarceration, allowing us to begin meetings inside of the facility prior to release. CoSA Volunteers play a crucial role in the Reentry Program by helping to guide Core Members on a path to becoming a contributing member of the community. By offering your time, compassion and energy, you will join a growing network of people who are committed to the safety of the community, and the successful reentry of Core Members.
Diversion and Repetitive Panels
Our center is currently in need of dedicated community members to serve as volunteers on our Youth and Adult Court Diversion Panels as well as on Reparative Panels. During these panels, volunteers meet with individuals who have committed a crime and work collaboratively with each participant to create opportunities for them to accept responsibility, make amends to those affected by the incident, and move forward in a positive, meaningful way. Volunteers work with our Case Managers and Victim Coordinator to provide a safe space for those impacted by crime to share their story and be heard. As an agency we are dedicated to accountability, fairness, respect and compassion, and emphasize these core values throughout the Court Diversion and Reparative process.