Juvenile Justice

2012 - 2013

 Established a successful restorative justice diversion program with the Des Moines Police Department in which youth make amends for first time offenses through mediation and gain a second chance to move forward without a criminal record.

2013

 Created "Let’s Talk," a school mediation program embedded in Des Moines Public Schools to engage hundreds of students in restorative practices to interrupt the school-to-prison pipeline.

 

Throughout our History

  • Observed over 300 juvenile delinquency court cases in Polk County as part of the AMOS Court Watch initiative to help ordinary citizens keep an eye on justice.
  • Launched a racial profiling project with the ACLU and the Des Moines Chapter of the NAACP to document cases of racial profiling as they occur in central Iowa.Observed over 300 juvenile delinquency court cases in Polk County as part of the AMOS Court Watch initiative to help ordinary citizens keep an eye on justice.
  • Organized a major conference on restorative justice and educated hundreds of Central Iowans on the criminal justice system, restorative justice circles, mediation skills, and conflict resolution.

[Photo credit: Let's Talk]