Restorative Justice Program

The 5th Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Restorative Justice Program seeks to examine the harmful impact of a crime and then determines what can be done to repair that harm while holding the person who caused it accountable for his or her actions. Accountability for the offender includes accepting responsibility for the offender's actions, and acting to repair the harm done. 

Two major initiatives under the Restorative Justice Program are the Pretrial Diversion Track and Restitution Recovery.

Pretrial Diversion Track

The Restorative Justice Program's Pre-Trial Diversion Track diverts certain first-time nonviolent offenders from the traditional court system into an individualized and supervised restorative program. Only those who are eligible and committed to successfully completing the program will be considered. The offender will be required to work, perform community service, participate in counseling, drug & alcohol treatment, anger management, theft deterrent classes, report to the PTD Office, pay restitution if applicable, and anything else the District Attorney feels will aid in the rehabilitation of the defendant. 

If the offender successfully completes the Restorative Justice Program's Pre-Trial Diversion Track, the case will not be brought to trial, the District Attorney will file a Motion to Dismiss the case with prejudice, and there will not be a conviction. However, if the defendant does not complete the PTD program, they will be adjudicated guilty and sentenced as they would for any other conviction.

Restitution Recovery

Collecting restitution is a vital function of the Restorative Justice Program, and helps to repair the damage done by offenders to victims of crime, and the community generally. Restorative Justice Program Coordinators are responsible for monitoring and tracking all court-ordered payments made by criminal defendants.

The Restorative Justice Program staff enforces the court’s order with several different methods including restitution dockets, contempt hearings, and restitution agreements. Different payment methods have also been made available for defendants to remain compliant, including in-person and by-phone payments.