Philosophy

Court  Diversion is an alternative to traditional court proceedings that can help  offenders avoid a criminal record. Referrals are made by the Windsor District  and Family Court. Our services are designed to:

Help offenders learn       from their illegal conduct, develop therapeutic interventions, if       appropriate, and help them make positive changes in their lives,

Facilitate       restitution for victims as well as help them cope with the impact of the       offense upon their lives,

Build bridges for       victims and offenders to the community by relying on local volunteers to       participate in this model of alternative justice.

Client Welfare

The  primary responsibility of board members is to respect the dignity and promote  the welfare of victims and offenders and to offer restorative justice to the  community. Board members encourage client growth and development in ways that  foster the client’s interests and welfare. Board members will avoid fostering  dependent relationships.

Active  listening should be practiced by board members at all times. Board members work  with clients in devising integrated, individual contracts that offer a  reasonable chance of success and which are consistent with the abilities and  circumstances of the clients.

Family Involvement

Board  members recognize that families are important in clients' lives and strive to  enlist family understanding and involvement as a positive resource. When minors  or individuals are unable to give voluntary, informed consent, parents or  guardians shall be included in the process as appropriate.

Community Service Needs

Board  members neither place nor participate in placing clients in community service  positions that will result in damaging the interest and the welfare of clients,  employers, or the public.

Respecting Diversity

Nondiscrimination       - Board members       do not condone or engage in discrimination based on age, color, culture,       disability, ethnic group, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation,       marital status, or socioeconomic status.

Respecting       Differences - Board       members will actively attempt to understand the diverse cultural       backgrounds of the clients with whom they work. This includes, but is not       limited to, learning how board members' own cultural/ethnic/racial       identity influences their values and beliefs about the diversion process,       and that they avoid imposing their values on clients.

Personal Needs and Values

Personal Needs - Board members are aware of the       responsibilities inherent in the diversion process, and they avoid actions       that seek to meet their personal needs at the expense of victims or       offenders.

Attitudes and       Values - Often       there are socioeconomic, age or other differences between board members       and youth offenders. Some clients come from backgrounds that lack       advantages many of us take for granted. They are very aware and sensitive       to this reality. Personal remarks should not be made concerning a client's       clothing style, lifestyle, grooming and hygiene, personal relationships,       etc. either to the client or to other board members about the client.

It is  very important for board members not to impose their religious, moral or class  beliefs on clients. If you find yourself making statements starting with,  "when I was a kid," this is probably a sign that you should rethink  what you are about to say. Child rearing norms also differ widely, and members  should not impose their ideas of what is a "good" parent or family.  Nobody is open to change if they feel that they are not understood or respected  as a person.

Dual Relationships

Board  members should be aware of their influential position with respect to clients,  and dual  relationships should be avoided. Examples of such relationships include, but  are not limited to, familial, social, financial, business, or close personal  relationships with clients. When a dual relationship cannot be avoided, board  members should take appropriate action, such as recusing oneself or observation  without comment.

Superior/Subordinate  Relationships

Board  members do not accept as clients superiors or subordinates with whom they have administrative,  supervisory, or evaluative relationships.

Sexual  Intimacies with Clients

Current Clients - Board members       shall not have any type of sexual intimacies with clients and shall not       develop contracts for persons with whom they have had a sexual       relationship.

Former Clients - Board members do not engage in       sexual intimacies with former clients within a minimum of two years after       terminating the diversion process.

Sexual Harassment       - Board members       do not engage in sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is defined as sexual       solicitation, physical advances, or verbal or nonverbal conduct that is       sexual in nature, that occurs in connection with professional activities       or roles, and that either (1) is unwelcome, is offensive, or creates a       hostile environment; or (2) is sufficiently severe or intense to be       perceived as harassment to a reasonable person. Sexual harassment can       consist of a single intense severe act or multiple persistent or pervasive       acts.

Confidentiality

Respect for       Privacy - Board       members respect their clients' right to privacy and avoid illegal and       unwarranted disclosures of confidential information.

Client Waiver - The right to privacy may be       waived by the client or his or her legally recognized representative.

Exceptions - The general requirement that       board members keep information confidential does not apply when disclosure       is required to prevent clear and imminent danger to the client or others       or when legal requirements demand that confidential information be       revealed. Board members consult with professionals when in doubt as to the       validity of an exception.

Contagious, Fatal       Diseases - A       board member who receives information confirming that a client has a       disease commonly known to be both communicable and fatal is justified in       disclosing information to an identifiable third party, who by his or her       relationship with the client is at a high risk of contracting the disease.       Prior to making a disclosure the board member should ascertain that the       client has not already informed the third party about his or her disease       and that the client is not intending to inform the third party in the       immediate future.

Court-Ordered       Disclosure - When       the court mandates the release of confidential information regarding a       juvenile client, without parental/guardian permission, board members       should request that disclosure not be required, due to potential harm to       the client. Board members are accurate, honest, and unbiased in reporting       their professional activities and judgments to appropriate third parties       including courts

Minimal Disclosure       - When       circumstances require the disclosure of confidential information, only       essential information is revealed. To the extent possible, clients are informed       before confidential information is disclosed.

Grievance Procedure:

If a  board member, victim or diversion client has a grievance concerning the  diversion process he/she should first consult with the diversion facilitator,  if no satisfaction is obtained he/she should discuss their concerns with the  Executive Director, 802-295-5078, #12, and finally, if their concerns are still  not resolved they should contact Valley Court Diversion Programs Board of  Directors.