Volunteer

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with us!

As we prepare for our big move to the Post Apartments building in March and becoming the county-wide hub for pre-charge referrals in July, we are taking a pause on bringing in new volunteers at this time.

Please check back for updates on future volunteer opportunities. We look forward to welcoming new volunteers again soon!

If you are looking to connect with us as part of the city's Trusted Community Voices program, please email the cjcfrontdesk@burlingtonvt.gov.

We are taking a pause on bringing in new volunteers at this time.

Circles of Support and Accountability

CoSA is a reentry program based on a successful international restorative justice model of assisting serious offenders to reintegrate into their communities. Trained CoSA volunteers work in teams of three to five and meet weekly with the core member to support them in returning to the community and managing everyday living. This includes:

following the supervision rules set by the Department of Corrections.
acting in ways that do not hurt others.
taking responsibility for one's actions by making amends for past offenses.
getting help for mental or emotional problems such as addictions, depression, or learning disabilities.
practicing productive new attitudes and behaviors.
arranging for transportation needs.
finding a job.
creating and living within a budget.
developing constructive solutions to problems.
planning for the future.

The mission of a CoSA is to enhance community safety and repair relationships by supporting core members to successfully rejoin the community and commit no further offenses. The CoSA circle helps the core member take the learning and self-awareness gained from treatment and utilize it in everyday life. Additionally, the circle will hold the core member accountable for adherence to post-release expectations and for developing healthy relationships. As the core member grows and rebuilds community connections, the circle will represent the needs of the community in relationship to those of the core member.

Contact Lorcan Ackley at (802) 923-6480 or lackley@burlingtonvt.gov to learn more.

Parallel Justice

Parallel Justice is a victim-centered approach that provides information, resources, and support to people who have experienced crime and harm in Burlington, parallel to (but independent from) the criminal legal system.

Volunteers will:

reach out and connect with individuals impacted by crime and harm by calling to follow up after a police report.
offer support, validation, and human connection to those affected by incidents like burglary, car theft, and assault.
be a navigator and advocate by supporting victims and survivors with navigating the criminal legal system, connected to resources, and advocating for services when they experience barriers.
work with a Victim Services Specialist to maintain an outreach log and share questions.

Volunteers will work out of our offices located on 200 Church Street & 32 Cherry Street. Remote options are not available due to confidentiality requirements.

We request a commitment of 2 hours per week for 1 year.

मार्फत पीडितलाई सहयोग गर्नुहोस्

वस्तु वा सेवाहरूको दान

अपराधको पीडितहरूका लागि समानान्तर न्याय सदैव दान गरिएको सेवाहरू (मसाज, घर सफा गर्ने, मोटर वाहन मर्मत गर्ने, आदि ...) वा चोरी गरिएको सामानहरूको प्रतिस्थापनको लागि आभारी छ। अधिक जान्न किम जोर्डन (2०२) २44-०764 or वा kjordan@burlingtonvt.gov मा सम्पर्क गर्नुहोस्।

Adult Restorative Processes

Can you spare two hours a week to help bring equity and justice to Burlington? Do you identify as BIPOC, LGBTQ+ or someone with lived experience in the criminal legal system?

We invite you to join fellow community members in addressing the impact of crime from the perspective of a responsible party (offender) and affected party (victim). This group will explore the harms that have been done to individuals and the community and will help the responsible party make amends.

We are especially interested in striving to represent the diversity of our community (age, race, gender identity, religion, socio-economic status, etc.)

Youth Restorative Processes

We are seeking volunteers from a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and identities who have a willingness to deeply question the punitive justice system and ask for imagination beyond current systems.

Volunteers will:

Explore why the harm happened and its root causes. What skills and support are needed to make amends and move forward positively? How can the community hold up the people impacted while supporting the youth responsible for harm with skill-building and amend-making?
Support the healing needs of the people who have been harmed and the accountability needs of the people responsible for harm. Restorative justice puts the voice, questions, and needs of people involved at the center: those responsible, those impacted, their natural supports, and the community by asking “what is needed to make things right?”
Experience a variety of restorative processes and roles. Opportunities to directly support harmed parties, co-facilitate Restorative Group Conferences & Circles, and provide hands-on assistance in the completion of restorative agreements.

City Circle

City Circle is a rapid restorative justice alternative for ordinance violations in the downtown core of Burlington to provide short term interventions for lower-level harms. Participants referred to the Circle will meet with volunteers to discuss the impact of the violation, what’s needed to repair, and what support is necessary to prevent it from happening again. If agreements are completed, their ticket is dismissed.

Volunteer

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with us!

We are taking a pause on bringing in new volunteers at this time.

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