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About the Restorative Justice Project

Mission

The mission of RJP is divided into three different aspects:

1. Criminal Justice

   Working toward victim offender reconciliation as the norm for dealing with the issues surrounding crime and victimization. Working toward a VORP in every community, PACS RJP assists communities in establishing new Victim Offender Reconciliation Programs and promotes development of the victim offender field through conferences, classes and resources. PACS RJP is your VORP Resource and Training Center. The World Wide Web home for this work is here at www.fresno.edu/pacs/rjp/

2. Community-wide implementation of Restorative Justice Principles

   Most broken relationships don't involve crime, but rather feelings of injustice. RJP has developed and is working to implement a method of infusing Restorative Justice Principles in organizations both public and private. All organizations can benefit from this process. For information on implementing RJ principles in your community or organization click RestorativeJusticeProject.org

3. National, international, and society-wide reconciliation

   RJ Principles provide the best handle for working with relationships at the macro level among peoples, tribes, and nations. Benefit from our experience at RJInternational.org

HISTORY

Restorative Justice Project (RJP) is a program of the Center for Peacemaking and Conflict Studies (PACS) at Fresno Pacific University. RJP emerged in 1993 in response to a request from leaders in the VORP and Restorative Justice fields for a resource and training center.

The Fresno site was chosen to house RJP because of the unique working relationship between the Fresno VORP and PACS at Fresno Pacific University, a Christian (Mennonite Brethren) University.

RJP is building on the experience and efforts of Fresno VORP to encourage and assist in VORP expansion. Since 1983 Ron Claassen and Fresno VORP have provided training for many new VORP's in California and other states. When established in 1990, PACS assumed the responsibility for VORP expansion (education and training).

PURPOSE of PACS RJP

1. To develop and gather restorative justice resources which:

• Assist in organization and management of VORPs and other restorative justice programs.
• Develop training materials which integrate biblical teaching and material from the social sciences and other relevant fields.
• Increase awareness and educate people about restorative justice.
• Promote and encourage movement toward a restorative justice system in every jurisdiction.
• Motivate communities of faith to work toward restorative justice.

2. To provide forum(s) in which emerging restorative justice ideas and programs can be tested and/or shared to advance understanding of both restorative justice theory and practice.

3. To encourage and assist in the development and nurture of a VORP in every community by providing:

• Resource materials.
• Organizational training and consultation.
• Program development training and consultation.
• Director-In-Training program.
• Training for Trainers and Consultants.
• Publicity on the need/opportunity for VORP.

PERSONNEL

• Ron Claassen -Director, PACS; Founder and former Executive Director, VORP of the Central Valley, Inc.
• Elaine Enns - Associate of PACS
• Duane Ruth-Heffelbower - Director, Training and Services, PACS; founding Board Chair and current Administrator, VORP of the Central Valley, Inc.

For information on any of our services
Call: 1-800-909-VORP or email RJP@fresno.edu