The Department of Children and Families (DCF) refers adjudicated youth to the Juvenile Restorative Probation Program (JRPP) of Valley Court Diversion as a condition of their probation. The JRPP gives youth offenders the opportunity to accept responsibility and make amends for their actions, provide monetary restitution to their victims, and repair any damage to the community. Case managers facilitate monthly Juvenile Restorative Panels, run the Streetcheckers Program, and provide Life Skills Education classes. In addition, the program provides an opportunity for the community to restore a sense of justice and safety while supporting the victim's right to have a voice in the process. Victims can participate directly in the hearings, provide written testimony, or make an oral statement indicating how they have been hurt and what it has meant to them.

Juvenile Restorative Panel (JRP)

Juvenile Restorative Panels are held in White River Junction and Springfield and have several related goals:

• offender rehabilitation
• competency development
• victim restitution
• community safety

Youth offenders participate in an initial hearing and one or more follow-up hearings to assess their progress. At these hearings, offenders have an opportunity to explain their version of events, examine their motives, and learn the consequences of their actions. Volunteer panel members ask questions and work with youth to create a restorative agreement that reinforces their accountability by assigning certain conditions such as:

• monetary restitution
• letters of apology
• community service
• repair of damaged property
• special projects related to the youth's strengths/interests/talents
• research reports on specific topics
• journaling or self-reflective essays
• nature-based service-learning opportunities

When youth complete all conditions of the contract, they attend a final completion hearing to celebrate their success, review what they have learned, and discuss how the process has influenced their thinking, attitude, and behavior.

Streetcheckers Program

The Streetcheckers Program provides direct supervision to youth on probation who are living in the community. Streetcheckers case managers monitor a probationer's whereabouts, associations, and activities, whether they are at home, in school, attending counseling, participating in extracurricular activities, performing community service, or working at a part-time after-school job. In addition, case managers confirm curfews and support parental expectations. Intensive supervision of juvenile probationers increases options for serving youth in the community and enhances public safety.

Life Skills Education

Life skills classes are designed to build practical skills in the following areas:

• decision making
• problem solving
• conflict resolution
• anger management
• family relationships
• self-improvement activities

In addition, case managers often meet with youth on a one-to-one basis to discuss ways to improve their home lives, succeed at school, and avoid future harmful behavior.