Yolo County District Attorney Office

A Victim Advocate's Role in a Restorative Justice Conference from YoloDA on Vimeo.

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Yolo Restorative Justice Partnership is a restorative justice program initiated by the Yolo County District Attorney’s office in cooperation with local law enforcement and government agencies. Restorative Justice Partnership is unique to Yolo County, and operates in Davis, Woodland, and West Sacramento. The purpose of this program is to allow community members and victims of crime to address criminal violations that impact the quality of life in our neighborhoods by using the principles of restorative justice to achieve non-punitive solutions. 

Restorative Justice Partnership utilizes restorative justice concepts which identify crime as acts that cause harm done to people and communities. Restorative Justice Partnership emphasizes the offender repairing that harm done to the individual and the community. Another goal of Restorative Justice Partnership is for all parties to understand the root cause of the crime so that the victim, community and offender can move forward in a positive direction. Restorative Justice Partnership strengthens neighborhoods impacted by criminal activity in four ways: 

Restore Victim
Restorative Justice Partnership is victim centered by placing emphasis on the victim’s needs. It is focused on offenders making things right to the greatest extent possible with their victims. Offenders pay restitution to victims who have suffered monetary losses or property damage.

Restore Community
The Restorative Justice Partnership creates an atmosphere of inclusion and responsibility by providing a direct role for residents to oversee the resolution of offenses in their city. When appropriate the offender will complete community service that goes directly to improving conditions in the area impacted by the crime. 

Restore Offender
Restorative Justice Partnership offers offenders a second chance by avoiding a criminal conviction on their record upon successful completion of the program. Offenders are also restored by helping them understand the consequence of their actions and by giving them the opportunity to pay back the community they harmed through community service.

Educate Offender
Restorative Justice Partnership educates offenders by helping them understand why they committed the offense which led to their current situation. Offenders can be educated in alcohol use, anger management, and how to be considerate to their community, as well as other topics designed to change or modify their behavior.

Restorative Justice Partnership is a volunteer-run program. Volunteers are trained to meet with offenders in a mediated conference setting to discuss the implications of their crimes and seek a mutually agreeable solution to restore the harms created by that crime.