Dane County launched a new pilot program in the South Madison District this summer to provide alternative processes to the criminal justice system.
Though only a pilot program, Dane County officials and the Madison Police Department said they hope to expand the Community Restorative Courts throughout the city and county.
"Individuals are still held responsible for their actions but there is a collaborative effort to create a process which is sensitive and more adept at providing human services support," MPD Chief Mike Koval said in a statement. "Restorative justice initiatives focus on a more holistic platform."
If an individual between the ages of 17 and 25 commits a misdemeanor under the new program, police will give the offender a chance to participate in CRC, which includes taking full responsibility for the crime itself. The offender meets with CRC Coordinator Ron Johnson, instead of a judge, throughout the whole process.
"People in this community have been waiting for a unique alternative to the current system for a long time,” Johnson explained. "Dane County for quite some time has worked to change the fact that we lead the nation in terms of racial disparities."
The pilot program will undergo three phases of development in the coming months, according to Johnson. Though it is difficult for officials to put a timeline on when the program will expand, Johnson hopes to see success soon.
"People that fit the criteria and complete the program won't have any arrest record, and this will greatly help out folks who cannot find a job because of a low-level misdemeanor."
