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Please be a part of healing victims, offenders, and community by donating today!

The Community Justice Center is the leading restorative justice practitioner in the State of Nebraska. We offer institutional and community programming that addresses the needs of victims, offenders and our community for a better, safer, and more cost-effective criminal justice system.

Message from the founder:

“I would like to convey my most sincere and heartfelt gratitude to the individuals who have assisted me throughout this last year in seeing this project grow and develop into the organization we are today. This project has become a meaningful program serving victims of crime and our communities. Please support our restorative work.”

James Jones, Jr.

Founder, Community Justice Center

N

$25.00

Purchases books and curriculum for one participant
N

$50.00

Supports our Restorative Support Circles where victims, offenders, and the community come together to support one another
N

$100.00

Supports an hour of community or institutional programming
N

$250.00

Supports a Victim Impact/Empathy Life Skills Class in the community or an institution
N

$1,250.00

Provides one day of programming at a Nebraska Correctional facility

The Community Justice Center is a public safety organization that operates under 501(C) 3 US Regulations; all donations are tax deductible.

Send check or money order donations to:

Community Justice Center
PO Box 22746
Lincoln, Nebraska 68542.

Supporters of our Program

“The data is impressive. Whereas nationally about 50% of released prison inmates are back in the slammer within three years, Nebraska fares better, with a three-year recidivism rate of around 26%. Offenders who are served by the Community Justice Center, however, have a return rate of slightly less than 8%. Yes, there may be some self-selection in those results, but nonetheless, that’s a huge difference, and I think it can be attributed to good programming offered by an agency that is headed by a talented man who not only talks the talk, but has walked the walk.

Jim has earned my trust. I was somewhat cynical and just a little suspicious when this ex-offender came to my office in 1994, introduced himself and pitched his concept for restorative justice. I was wrong. He did exactly what he said he would do, and the organization he has built in the ensuing years is definitely an asset to our criminal justice system. I had the opportunity, last night, to point that out to a roomful of movers and shakers, and to his wife and son—not that they needed to hear it from me.”

Tom Casady

Police Chief, Lincoln Police Department

“In Minnesota we have been struggling with the very problem that CJC addresses: how to create opportunities for victims to be relieved of the fear that they may still have in situations where an offender is truly remorseful and eager to apologize and make amends. Many victims suffer needlessly for years because they have no way to know what has happened to the offender or what changes have occurred in the offender”.
Kay Pranis

Restorative Justice Planner

“The project offers a needed addition to the restorative justice options available to us to repair the tears in our community fabric caused by crime”.
Lee Copenhagen

Project Director , Gallatin Community Justice Center, Bozeman, MT

“I was glad to have an opportunity to look over your CJC proposal. It appears to fill a real need. As you well know, victims often wish to have the kind of information and contact that your proposal offers”.
Howard Zehr Ph.D. & Professor of Sociology

Restorative Justice at Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA

“Over the past ten years I have seen so many women who truly believed that THEY were the only victim of their crime. After the class, they come away with a realization, and attitude about what they have done and how many people were affected. The class is one of the single most effective things I have seen done at Nebraska Correctional Center for Women.”

Mary Alley, NCCW

Victims Advocate/Vocational Teacher II, York, NE

“CJC educational component for the offenders will be worthwhile whether or not the victims of the particular crime seek information or reconciliation. The fact that information will be available to victims who may want such information will provide those victims with a safe and non-threatening way to access information in addition to offering them the possibility of mediated meeting. I believe your proposal is well thought out and would serve an important need in this community.”
Dennis R. Keefe

Office of the Public Defender, Lincoln, NE

“I have reviewed the CJC program abstract and believe it has the potential to reduce crime and make our community a safer place in which to live. I feel the program will benefit both survivors of crime and offenders.”
William S. Janike M.A. & P.L.M.H.P.

Child Guidance Center, Lincoln, NE

“Your CJC project is particularly exciting and holds great potential because it offers additional options to serve the needs of crime victims while helping offenders face the reality of the impact of their actions on the people they have harmed. Both offender accountability and victim service are addressed though CJC.”
Mark Umbreit Ph.D. & Professor

Executive Director for the Center of Restorative Justice & Peacemaking

“After reading the proposal, I have found that this program is one of the most innovative and refreshing concepts in the field of Victim Services that I have seen in quite some time.”
Robert E. Smith

Director of the Domestic Violence Task Force Office , District Attorney, Jena, L.A.

“The clients that attend the Community Justice Center program are given the opportunity to open their minds to a world that many of them have never seen. The candid, honest discussions about how crime impacts so many facets of a community is brought to life and clients are able to focus on their responsibility and learn to begin to make changes in their thoughts and their behaviors. We are grateful for the work the Community Justice Center does and will continue to utilize the program as often as possible.”
Julie Micek L.I.M.H.P

Day Reporting Center Coordinator, Sarpy County, Bellevue, NE

“The program motivates participants to action and breaks down their denial systems. The class should be taken at the beginning of supervision it opens their minds up to all DRC programming and makes supervising them much easier.”
Cindy Wohler-Green

Day Reporting Center Coordinator, Lancaster County, Lincoln, NE

“Among other important features, CJC respects safety and choice. For example, participation by victims is strictly voluntary and victim-initiated. At the same time, an offender may choose to participate in the education component and website whenever he or she is ready. This will help offenders take responsibility and develop empathy. The website will be a safe way for victims to get information and then choose whether, when and how to participate further.”
Elizabeth R. Kosier & J.D.

The Mediation Center, Lincoln, NE

“Far too often in our society offenders are released from correctional facilities without being held accountable in any meaningful way for the pain, suffering, trauma, and loss they have inflicted upon others, and it is quite reassuring to know that your program will change that.”
Cheryl D. Green

Director of Victim Services, Maryland Department of Juvenile Justice

“It is refreshing to see a program designed to embrace the concepts that are being addressed. Getting victims and offenders to truly address what has happened, the impact the crime had on all involved is an excellent process in beginning the healing. This will truly embrace the balance and restorative justice approach”.
Rosezetta Bobo

Restorative Justice Coordinator, and the Florida Supreme Court

The Community Justice Center

211 North 14th Street

Ste. 309

Lincoln, NE 68508

Phone: 402-277-8111 or

402-429-1050

Email:

jim.jones@communityjusticecenter.org

The Community Justice Center

2401 Lake Street

Ste. 240

Omaha, NE 68111