The Yolo County District Attorney’s Office has received $1.95 million in federal grant funds from the Board of State and Community Corrections to expand the DA’s Neighborhood Court program to Woodland and West Sacramento, District Attorney Jeff Reisig announced.
Neighborhood Court is an adult criminal diversion program and court alternative based on the concept of restorative justice — addressing criminal violations that impact the quality of life in the community and empowers those most affected by the crime.
Restorative justice is accomplished in Neighborhood Court by involving the victim, the offender and community volunteers in a confidential, facilitated conference that focuses on the harm to the victim caused by crime and the offender’s obligation to repair that harm.
Neighborhood Court outcomes, to the extent possible, repair the harm done to the victim, emphasize offender accountability and responsibility while addressing the reasons for the offense.
The grant award, funded through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants and distributed over a three-year period, will allow the District Attorney’s Office to expand Neighborhood Court to West Sacramento and Woodland, with an additional focus on the county’s homeless offenders.
Yolo County is only the second county in the state to offer a Neighborhood Court program, starting with Davis and UC Davis in 2013 and conducting nearly 500 conferences to date involving infractions and misdemeanor offenses. Both the offender and the victim must consent to the process.
For Neighborhood Court to be successful, the District Attorney’s Office relies on community volunteers. This program creates an atmosphere of inclusion and responsibility by providing a direct role for residents to oversee the resolution of offenses in their city. To date, more than 100 community volunteers have supported this innovative program and more are needed for the expansion.
As a result of the grant award, the District Attorney is actively recruiting volunteers for the program in the cities of Davis, Woodland and West Sacramento. The next entry-level training session for volunteers will be held in West Sacramento on Saturday, March 7.
To learn more about the Neighborhood Court program, come to one of the following informational sessions: Thursday, Feb. 26, or Tuesday, March 3, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Community Room at the West Sacramento Police Department; 550 Jefferson Blvd.; or Monday, March 2, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Community Room at the Woodland Police Department, 1000 Lincoln Ave.
Information about Neighborhood Court and volunteer applications are available online at www.yoloda.org, by emailing neighborhoodcourt@yolocounty.org or by calling 530-666-8378.