VISION

The Restorative Justice Coalition of Oregon (RJCO) envisions safe, inclusive, and resilient communities that address harm by fostering personal responsibility, mutual respect, and healthy relationships.


MISSION


RJCO is a coalition of Oregon restorative justice practitioners and programs. We promote and support the implementation and practice of restorative justice principles and models in Oregon’s justice, law enforcement, educational, and other community institutions.


To ensure that the needs of crime victims, criminal justice involved individuals, and the community are met, we:

  • advocate for the development and expansion of restorative practices in a variety of institutional and community settings;
  • commit to continually addressing racial inequity and harm restoratively;
  • serve as a resource and support network for restorative justice practitioners and administrators;
  • create partnerships, collaborations, and actively engage key stakeholders; 
  • provide educational and training opportunities; 
  • expand the understanding and application of restorative justice principles; 
  • influence local and state policy around institutional responses to harms keeping public safety, victim needs and offender accountability at the forefront; and, 
  • encourage and support policy makers to engage with impacted communities.


values

As the Restorative Justice Coalition of Oregon, WE VALUE: 


1. Restorative Philosophy

2. Equity

3. Inclusion

4. Collaboration

5. Empowerment

6. Connection

7. Flexibility

8. Honesty & Transparency

RJCO’s Commitment to Honoring

Difference and Opposing Inequity

RJCO acknowledges and embraces that restorative justice is rooted in indigenous and spiritual traditions and practices, and today is expansive and evolving. RJCO does not advocate any single understanding of what restorative justice is or should be. RJCO also recognizes that restorative justice and restorative practice often operate within systems that are beset by structural racism, institutionalized inequities, and that perpetuate harm and have a disproportionate impact on Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) and low-income communities. Today, RJCO:

  • Represents some, not all, voices that ascribe to restorative justice values, principles and practices.
  • Seeks to understand and embrace our role in the network of people and organizations that work for greater justice and peace in our society.
  • Will continue to seek out relationships with people and groups advancing restorative justice in Oregon.
  • Strives to grow in the diversity and number of practitioners and supporters who form our membership.
  • Acknowledges and celebrates other communities of practice within Oregon.
  • Will take the lead on issues where we have skill, experience and influence, and actively encourage collaboration and participation of BIPOC community partners.
  • Will lead our planning and decision-making activities with a racial equity analysis.
  • Will use its individual or collective positions of privilege to advance equity and social justice.

A Brief History of RJCO

The Restorative Justice Coalition of Oregon (RJCO) began as the Coalition of Victim Offender Mediation Programs (COVOMP) in the Fall of 1997. This small group of representatives in Oregon and southern Washington coordinated a forum to address the needs of various programs and provide education and training to people interested in restorative justice. To learn more about the history of COVOMP and its accomplishments, click here.

The name changed in 2011 to the Restorative Justice Coalition of Oregon or RJCO to better reflect the diversity of practices, programs, agencies, and practitioners utilizing restorative values and principles in their work across Oregon. If you would like to review the Coalition's bylaws, click here.