Vermont Law School is in line for a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to expand its National Center on Restorative Justice.
U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., helped secure the funding through his role as the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee.Â
The center is a collaboration among the University of Vermont, the University of San Diego and the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs. It teaches criminal justice professionals about restorative justice, a process by which offenders reconcile with their victims and communities, rather than serve time behind bars.
In a press release Tuesday, Leahy said the center is “leading a national discussion” on restorative justice.
The center was established in 2020 after Leahy helped to secure initial funding. The additional grant to continue the center’s operations was part of the annual spending bill Congress passed in December.
Stephanie Clark, director of the National Center on Restorative Justice, said the money would be used to introduce more students and professionals to restorative justice principles.
“A data-driven approach is essential for systems change like this,” said Abigail Crocker, a UVM professor who leads the Justice Research Initiative at UVM, the research arm of the center. “By supporting research to advance restorative justice principles and practices, we are well-poised to address some of the biggest issues facing our justice system today, including social inequalities, community impacts and costs, and more.”
— Ellie French