In 2009, the Dunn County Criminal Justice Collaborating Council was developed.  This dedicated group of individuals including, judges, human services professionals, and community members have assisted in the growth and change of the justice system in Dunn County.

One group of the Criminal Justice Collaborating Council is the Juvenile Sub-committee.   The sub-committee’s goal is to improve early intervention with the youth in our community and reduce recidivism and crime in our young population.  The recent focus of the sub-committee has been on Restorative Justice.  Restorative Justice can include multiple components of intervention.

Restorative Justice is based upon an understanding of wrongdoing.  It is a belief that:

• Crime is a violation of people and of interpersonal relationships;
• Violations create obligations;
• The central obligation is to put right the wrongs.

The philosophy of Restorative Justice focuses on repairing the harm caused to people and relationships from a crime.  This philosophy strengthens public safety by involving the whole community in resolution and working with the offender on reinvesting in the community.   It provides opportunity for resolution while holding offenders accountable for their actions.

The 3 central pillars of Restorative Justice are:

• Harms and Needs – address victims harms and needs,
• Obligations – hold offenders accountable to put right those harms,
• Engagement – involve victims, offenders and communities in the justice process.

In June 2011, Positive Alternatives, Inc. received a two-year grant from the Bremer Foundation to enhance current restorative justice practices in Dunn County along with developing new programs.

The Dunn County Restorative Justice Program will involve 4 core components:

1. Truancy Prevention: working with schools, families and courts to help keep students in school and to improve both their attendance and their school performance.
2. Victim Offender Conferencing: involves working individually with the offender and the victim to have them agree to a mediation by a trained mediator and be guided through a process of justice in a balanced manner.
3. Victim Witness Panels (driving while under the influence and texting while driving): allows victims to tell their stories and encourages offenders to understand what they have done.  Does not match victims and offenders from a specific case.
4. Teen Court: an alternative to appearing in Juvenile Court, paying a fine and/or having a criminal record.  An opportunity for a youth to receive a meaningful consequence from a jury of their peers, to take responsibility for their actions and also provides positive peer pressure with community based consequences.