RICJ Juvenile Justice Reform VISTA

RICJ Juvenile Justice Reform VISTA - Health & Justice in RI

Youth interaction with the justice system has been linked to poor physical health, mental illness, and social injury. RICJ's juvenile justice program promotes community alternatives based in transformative and restorative justice with a focus on BIPOC urban youth. In RI, juveniles of color are disproportionately likely to experience arrest, court referrals, and imprisonment, yet 95% of juveniles sent to court are there for nonviolent offenses. In 2020, the RI child population was only 6% Black or African American, yet in 2021, Black youth were 11 times more likely to be incarcerated in RI's juvenile prison compared to white youth and four times more likely compared to youth of all races (RI Kids Count Factbook 2022). These statistics guide our work. In partnership with other RI organizations, youth, families, and government agencies, we seek to prevent system involvement. Our primary work is with Juvenile Hearing Boards (JHB), an innovative community diversion model. We are working to strengthen and better resource JHBs, inform communities about this diversion option, and collect data to demonstrate effects. The goal is to keep youth at higher risk of system involvement and incarceration out of the system and in the community where they can receive the resources they deserve. Further help on this page can be found by clicking here.

Member Duties : The Juvenile Justice Reform VISTA works collaboratively to alleviate the racialized harm of the juvenile justice system. The VISTA builds the capacity of community-based programs that divert youth from justice system involvement by promoting transformative and restorative justice, community investment, and racial equity. In this work, the VISTA will create community education on what diversion opportunities exist and how they may be improved; identify opportunities to collaborate with stakeholders to expand the use of diversion; improve current and create new trainings on best practices in diversion; grow resources for community diversion; analyze and share outcome data; and support the work of the juvenile justice reform team. Efforts will be devoted to intensive capacity building for Providence, Central Falls, Pawtucket, and other RI cities.

Program Benefits : Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend , Training , Childcare assistance if eligible , Health Coverage* , Living Allowance , Relocation Allowance .

Terms :

Permits working at another job during off hours , Car recommended , Permits attendance at school during off hours .

Service Areas :

Community Outreach , Public Safety , Community and Economic Development , Children/Youth .

Skills :

Writing/Editing , Interest in juvenile justice , General Skills , Public Speaking , Team Work , Communications , Community Organization , Conflict Resolution .