Welcome to our Web Site!

The San Diego Restorative Justice Mediation Program seeks to prevent the spiral of crime among juveniles in San Diego County through Victim-Offender Mediation and community training and involvement. Our program works at all levels of offense—the courts, the Probation department, the police and sheriffs, and schools and school districts.  

We are especially interested in helping those who are on the path to delinquency—they’ve not yet committed a crime, but their activities suggest to the adults around them that they may be headed in that direction. Early intervention is crucial. To that end, we are developing special projects in schools and communities.

In 2010, we are continuing our work to develop on-campus mediations at Sweetwater High School in National City.  We have also begun a project for the Juvenile Court Restitution Committee.  The project involves juvenile offenders who commit crimes against an entity—a school, utility, business, or municipality.  These crimes would include vandalism (such as graffiti), burglary, even stealing cable TV.

RJMP will mediate these cases using Victim-Offender (VORP) mediation, and restitution will be a part of the mediation agreement.  Restitution may include money paid to the victim entity, or in-kind service to the victim entity.  For example, a student from a high school in South Bay ended up washing school busses for a day to make restitution for tagging a restroom at the school.

Using VORP in these cases will help the juvenile offenders recognize the harm that they have done, and also alleviate the financial burden of the parents, who are liable to pay restitution that is often beyond their means.  It helps the entities, also—they get some restitution quickly rather than small payments over a long period of time.

The need for our Program is not in dispute. In 2008, an average 50 juveniles were arrested every day in San Diego County (SANDAG). Over the course of the year, that amounted to over 17,000 minors entering into an overburdened juvenile court system. And, with tighter budgets at all levels of government, that means more work and more stress for teachers, police, and probation officers.  Right now, we offer our mediation services to these officials free of charge. 

In 2009, we have over 50 new volunteer mediators.  In 2010, we’re offering our 17-hour training course February 3, 4, and 6; then again on June 9, 10 and 12. We’ll add at least one more training session this fall.

We are always looking for good volunteers for our office in Normal Heights, along with people who can help us with publicity materials—brochures, flyers, and our web site.

San Diego is the only major city in California that does not support a vibrant Restorative Justice or Victim Offender Reconciliation Program.  We want to change that by the end of 2010. This is undoubtedly a challenge—and the kind of challenge that gets me excited.  Please join us as we keep kids out of jail by preventing the spiral of crime and making more peaceful communities. 

Peace to you,
Ben Conarroe
Executive Director
director@sdrjmp.org