Donate
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. Your support is essential to this work. Thank you.
$25.00
Purchases books and curriculum for one participant
$50.00
Supports our Restorative Support Circles where victims, offenders, and the community come together to support one another
$100.00
Supports an hour of community or institutional programming
$250.00
Supports a Victim Impact/Empathy Life Skills Class in the community or an institution
$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 donations to:
Community Justice Center
211 N. 14th St, Suite 314
Lincoln, Nebraska 68508
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.”
“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”.
“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”.
“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”.
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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”.