The county is seeking volunteers to work as panelists and facilitators for Goleta Valley’s Neighborhood Restorative Justice program — a new initiative announced by District Attorney Joyce Dudley and the 2nd District Supervisor's Office that could keep low-level misdemeanor offenders out of the system by diverting them to the program in lieu of filing charges.
Under the new program, those picked up for low-level crimes will be given an opportunity to take responsibility and repair some of the harm they caused by participating in “restorative justice proceedings,” which are described as similar to conferences.
Volunteers for this community-driven effort will be able to participate as panelists in these proceedings, which are intended as an alternative to court proceedings, and are part of a larger county and statewide push for detention alternatives.