Volunteer
Community Advisory Board (CAB)
The Franklin Grand Isle Restorative Justice Center (FGIRJC) is looking for volunteers to serve on our Community Advisory Board. (CAB) The CAB exists to provide advice and to participate in the decisions of FGIRJC that reflect community priorities and restorative justice principles. FGIRJC responds to the stated needs and priorities of the residents of Franklin and Grand Isle counties by creating opportunities for meaningful engagement in order to prevent and address harm and build a safe and inclusive community. While criminal justice looks at a crime as a violation of the law, Restorative Justice looks at crime as a violation of people and relationships. The CAB advises on agency policy and priorities in collaboration with the Executive Director and the City of St. Albans. If you have a desire to serve your community through a restorative lens, please reach out to: Harmony Bourgeois, Executive Director at Harmony@fgirjc.org or 802-524-7006.
The Franklin Grand Isle Restorative Justice Center is guided by restorative principles and is dedicated to accountability, fairness, respect and compassion.
COSA
Members of a Circle of Support and Accountability (CoSA) work as a team of three or more volunteers with one Core Member - someone returning to Franklin and Grand Isle Community from incarceration. CoSA Volunteers meet regularly with the Core Member to provide support and mentoring, while ensuring that the Core Member is accountable for their actions. Core Members who are accepted into the program will have expressed a desire to change and must be committed to following the guidelines of the program. CoSA Volunteers will also work with other community stakeholders to establish expectations for the Core Member with regard to behaviors, responsibilities and community public safety.
The Volunteer commitment to the program and Core Member is for one year. The CoSA team meets for one hour per week and volunteers are encouraged to spend one-on-one time with the Core Member once a relationship has been established. Training for volunteers consists of a one-time CoSA training (in-person or remote) that is required prior to interacting with a Core Member. A Vermont Department of Corrections volunteer orientation and site-specific training are required every 2 years. Additional training is encouraged as needed. In some cases, we may be able to form a CoSA team before the Core Member is released from incarceration, allowing us to begin meetings inside of the facility prior to release. CoSA Volunteers play a crucial role in the Reentry Program by helping to guide Core Members on a path to becoming a contributing member of the community. By offering your time, compassion and energy, you will join a growing network of people who are committed to the safety of the community, and the successful reentry of Core Members.
Contact for potential CoSA Volunteers: Lee@fgirjc.org
Diversion & Reparative Panels
Are you looking to make a difference in your community? Do you have an interest in the justice system? Look no further! Consider becoming a volunteer with the Franklin Grand Isle Restorative Justice Center!
Our center is currently in need of dedicated community members to serve as volunteers on our Adult Court Diversion and Reparative Panels. During these panels, volunteers meet with individuals who have committed a crime and work collaboratively with each participant to create opportunities for them to accept responsibility, make amends to those affected by the incident, and move forward in a positive, meaningful way.
Volunteers also provide a safe space for those impacted by crime to share their story and be heard. As an agency we are dedicated to accountability, fairness, respect and compassion, and emphasize these core values throughout the Court Diversion and Reparative process. We hope to hear from you!
Contact for potential Diversion and Reparative Panel Volunteers: Eric Arnzen / Email: Eric@fgirjc.org / Phone: 752-6207