Restorative Justice in Brainerd

 

 

 

Across Minnesota, communities are using a restorative justice framework to address harm and to foster healing. According to the 2024 Restorative Justice Services Directory, published by the Minnesota Department of Corrections, there are 57 restorative justice organizations listed across the state.

Jeanine Wiley of the Lake Area Restorative Justice Project (LARJP), based in Brainerd, says her organization has spent two decades focused on diverting youth from the criminal justice system. The restorative justice model teaches accountability by focusing on impacts of the harm to individuals and community. They allow the youth to take responsibility for their offenses and make amends. The model reflects a desire to move away from traditional punitive measures of crime reduction and toward methods that allow for deeper healing of individuals and communities.

Traditional justice systems often fail to address the root causes of harm. In contrast, the restorative model creates space for the prevention of reoffending.

Michele Braley has been engaged in this work with Seward Longfellow Restorative Justice (SLRJ) in Minneapolis for sixteen of the organization’s thirty years of existence. “We know so much more about brain development now, and that should inform how we address youth behavior,” she says.

Organizations like LARJP and SLRJ work with both traditional law enforcement entities and non-traditional partners to identify youth who could benefit from restorative programs.

 

 

In 2024, LARJP managed more than 130 cases, a significant increase from the normal 30 to 50 cases in years prior, highlighting the growing interest in restorative practices. The vast majority of referrals came from county attorneys, police departments, and schools. Referrals also came from sources such as loss-prevention departments in retail stores. “We’ve really seen a shift in how the community responds to our programming and its ability to divert harm,” says Wiley.

A cornerstone of LARJP’s restorative work is the prevention of reoffending. They do this by helping the youth accept responsibility, often by learning directly about the impact of their choices upon the harmed party, typically within ten days of the offense.

“The youth and the impacted parties work through a restorative agreement which provides the youth with the opportunity to amend their wrongs through activities such as apology letters, creative projects, and restorative hours, adding skills and contact with positive nontraditional adults, increasing self-worth, and preventing future offenses.”

Recidivism rates are a key metric for evaluating the program’s success.

Case by Case

Restorative justice is not a one-size-fits-all solution. LARJP has established clear boundaries regarding the cases it accepts. “People think everything can go through a restorative justice framework, but it’s not for everything,” explains Wiley.

Eligible cases typically involve minor, non-violent offenses such as theft, property damage, and underage drinking. Other criteria include willingness of the youth’s family and the harmed party to participate. Family members may hesitate to engage in a full restorative process, which can span weeks or months. Some harmed parties prefer traditional punitive action to restorative measures.

Wiley says LARJP plans to recruit businesses and social services for partnerships to further help with diversion efforts.

The work LARJP does with youth doesn’t stop after the formal restorative process concludes. Case managers learn about youth interests and work to pair them with local businesses and community members to develop new skills for their future. For example, one youth was interested in small engine repair. “LARJP was able to pair this individual with a local mechanic shop owner. Together they repaired two snow blowers, which were donated to the local women’s domestic violence shelter and to Teen Challenge,” says Wiley.

LARJP also partners with local YMCAs to provide memberships to youth enrolled in their programs. It hopes to broaden its scope by developing programs to address a wider range of conflicts and environments — such as in workplaces. With an expanded suite of services, and additional revenue streams, the intention is to hire more facilitators, introduce new training opportunities, and expand its geographical reach.

LARJP is addressing misconceptions and biases, and conducts trainings about the value of restorative justice, in counties across Minnesota — including Olmsted, Morrison, and Wright so far.

Celebrative efforts related to addressing misconceptions and biases are done through regional and state groups. LARJP offer quarterly advisory council meetings with law enforcement, school administration, county attorney social services and corrections. Trainings are held with community members  to cultivate an understanding of restorative practices while also recruiting volunteers. The group meets with several police departments annually to review and update processes to ensure that all officers are aware of referring abilities, while addressing misconceptions in the process.

Restorative justice is not yet the norm. Systems change is a slow and arduous process. Wiley remains optimistic about its growth, believing that the practice can drive meaningful transformation. Restorative justice “can help transform not just cases, but the entire fabric of our community,” she says.

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