06 Feb ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO ANNOUNCED PARTNERSHIP WITH UNITED COMMUNITY CORPORATION TO OPEN FIRST-EVER RESTORATIVE AND TRANSFORMATIVE JUSTICE HUB PILOT PROGRAM NJ Juvenile Justice Commission Provides Grant to Establish Innovative Approach to Addressing Juvenile Crime
Published on February 6, 2024
Newark, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced a partnership with United Community Corporation from Newark to open the first-ever Restorative and Transformative Justice Hub Pilot Program in New Jersey. The goal of the pilot program is to provide at-risk juveniles with the skills to understand the consequences of their actions and a pathway to a life away from crime.
“This new pilot program offers a new approach to addressing juvenile justice. This restorative and transformative approach will help us find out the reasons why young people commit a crime and provide these young offenders with the tools to overcome those obstacles. This is a brand-new opportunity to address the real issues affecting their lives and hopefully keep them from spending time in our Juvenile Detention Center,” DiVincenzo said.
“We have seen how impactful the Juvenile Justice system can be when we take a different approach to addressing youth justice. These new spaces will provide us with an opportunity to intervene and break the cycle of violence affecting our youth,” Attorney General Matthew Platkin said.
“New Jersey has shown that successful system change in youth justice is possible. The natural next step is to transform the culture and provide safe spaces to help the community and youth heal,” said Jennifer LaBaron, PhD, Executive Director of the Juvenile Justice Commission.
“This is a proactive approach that will prevent a child from being handcuffed and led to a lifetime of overcoming obstacles. It’s a chance to address the real problems affecting our youth,” NJ Senate Majority Leader and Deputy Chief of Staff Teresa Ruiz said.
“The Restorative and Transformative Justice Hub is an incredible resource for at-risk youth and families within the City of Newark. The Hub brings together a number of critical resources and partners that promote violence prevention and peaceful resolution to disputes and conflicts. Referrals may come from a wide range of different sectors including the courts, community-based organizations and Newark police to only name a few,” Director of Citizen Services and Newark Councilman Anibal Ramos, Jr. said.
“UCC is poised and ready to provide crucial services to meet the needs of the community and help young people make better choices,” UCC Executive Director Craig Mainor said.
“There is more promise in preventing youth from getting involved in the juvenile justice system. We have to start as early as possible and show young people there is another path to follow and do whatever we can to keep them from going to jail,” Prosecutor Ted Stephens said.
“It is always great to invest in families and children and to give them opportunities to succeed,” Commissioner President Tyshammie Cooper said. “If there is anything we can do to enhance opportunities for youth to show young people there are alternatives, then please reach out,” said Commissioner Wayne Richardson about providing support to the program through his role with the labor unions.
“Anytime you can save the lives of our youth, it is an important initiative. This hub is our opportunity to restore our children’s faith and trust in us,” Newark Councilman Dupre Kelly said.
“This program is helpful for us on the frontlines because it will prevent young people from going down the wrong path,” Sheriff Armando Fontoura said.
The pilot program will be held at the Essex County West Side Park Community Center on 17th Street in Newark. It is being implemented through the Essex County Youth Services Commission, which received a grant from the NJ Juvenile Justice Commission to fund the program. Essex County is partnering with United Community Corporation to conduct the program. UCC successfully was awarded a publicly bid contract and its staff underwent extensive training to be prepared to work with young clients.
Juveniles ages 13 to 26 who commit a crime and meet eligibility requirements can be assigned to the program by a judge. Law enforcement officers who arrest a juvenile for a non-violent crime also have the discretion to enroll the juvenile in the program. In addition, the Prosecutor’s Office may recommend a juvenile to attend the program instead of seeking sentencing or jail time. School districts may refer students who have behavioral issues to the program instead of suspending them from school.
The Restorative and Transformative Justice for Youth and Communities Pilot Program’s approach is to find the root cause of why a juvenile client is committing a crime or acting out and give them the support, resources and skills to overcome that root cause.
The pilot program will create a one-stop center approach to helping its juvenile clients. Wrap-around services such as nutrition assistance, mentorships, transportation, employment and training, mental health assessments, like skills, financial literacy training and anger management are some of the services to which clients will have access. In addition, juveniles will participate in an exercise called a “Peace Circle” in which their actions will be discussed, and the victims of their actions will have an opportunity to share how their lives have been adversely affected.
The Restorative and Transformative Justice for Youth and Communities Pilot Program was established under legislation signed into law by the late Lieutenant Governor Shelia Oliver while she serve as Acting Governor in 2021. Among the primary sponsors of the legislation is Assemblywoman Shanique Speight from Newark. It creates pilot programs in Newark in Essex County, Paterson in Passaic County, Trenton in Mercer County and Camden in Camden County.