Current criminal justice practices focus almost exclusively on punishment and offenders. Too often victims are little more than an afterthought or a backseat witness to the proceedings. For restorative justice practitioners, this framework is no longer acceptable as it does further harm to those it was designed to protect and serve. By implementing restorative practices into our criminal justice process, we can transform our state's system into one that reduces harm and focuses on meeting the needs of victims from the outset.

RJWA is not just a single entity or set of practitioners, nor are our programs created inside of an echo chamber. Instead, in alignment with the RJ philosophy, we invite stakeholders from ALL areas and points of view to bring their voices to the table. By listening to and working with crime victims, victim advocates and orgs, prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, law enforcement agencies, lawmakers, and offenders, we offer a restorative and community-based approach to meeting the needs of those affected by the criminal justice process.

Currently, RJWA has three branches: Victim Services, Prison Programs, and Community Education. All three are separate in their work but united in their mission. We are teaching and practicing the RJ philosophy with the hope of supporting victims, increasing offender accountability, and reducing the effects of the harm that communities experience as a result of crime.