Greater Barre Community Justice Center

Creating understanding and resolution together

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Volunteer Opportunities

Circle of Support and Accountability (COSA) Volunteer for the Offender Reentry Program:  People are coming out of prison and returning to the Barre community on a weekly basis. These are not new members to the community. These are people who have significant ties to the area; they are returning to their families, communities and jobs. You can make a difference for your community by joining a “Circle of Support and Accountability” team. We need teams of volunteers willing to work with offenders as they transition from prison back into our community. As a team member, you will work very closely (on a weekly basis) with an offender returning to the Barre Community. Your role is to offer mentorship and support to an offender who has expressed a desire to change and a commitment to cause no more harm. As a trained team, the group will help to establish clear expectations with the offender in regards to community behavior and responsibility. The COSA volunteer will work in teams of three with an individual offender. The commitment is for one year of service. Please call the Justice Center to find out more about this opportunity.

Reparative Board Volunteer:  Says on volunteer Reparative Board member: “As a board member, you engage in and model relationships with members of your community. You get to make a “hands-on” difference in the lives of others… and in your own life as well!” Serving on a Reparative Board, community members work as a team with 3-5 other Board members to conduct a structured problem-solving meeting with persons responsible for and affected by a crime. This meeting is focused on understanding the harm caused, how the offender will make amends, and actions the offender will take to avoid re-offending. Staying away from a punitive mindset, as a board member you would represent the community perspective and ensure a restorative justice response to the crime committed. The members, along with active involvement from offender and affected parties, construct a plan for the offender to make amends. Reparative Board members: 1. Help people affected by crime be heard and have their needs attended to, and 2. Support people who have done wrong to understand the impact their actions have on victims, affected parties and the community. Training is required, as are 2 observations of working Boards prior to sitting on a Board. There are 1-2 meetings/month, which go for 2 ½-3 hours. A commitment of a year is desired.

Writing opportunities: Put your writing skills to work helping us with our bi-annual e-newsletter, writing articles for PR and marketing, etc. A creative mind and great verbal skills are a good combo to reach the public!  

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20 Auditorium Hill, Barre, VT 05641 • 802-476-0276 • barrecjc@sover.net