Neighborhood Restorative Justice (NRJ)
Program Description
Neighborhood Restorative Justice (NRJ) is administered by the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court. It is a voluntary diversion program for first-time juvenile offenders who have committed a misdemeanor offense and live in the following areas: Apopka, Ocoee, Winter Garden, Maitland and East Orange County.
NRJ facilitates Juvenile Accountability Conferences with Neighborhood Accountability Boards, which are comprised of volunteer community members who receive formalized training on the Juvenile Justice system.
The boards work together with the youth and the victim to repair the damage that has been caused by the youth’s actions. The youth will meet with the board, sign a contract and receive their sanctions.
Sanctions include but not are limited to:
- Community service
- Anger management classes
- Apology letter
- Life skills
- Essays
- Random drug tests
- Curfew
- Weekly progress report from the youth’s school
- Counseling
- Treatment services
If the defendant completes all sanctions, The State will dismiss the original charge.
An assistant state attorney will review eligible juvenile cases and speak to the victim for a referral.
Neighborhood Restorative Justice Domestic Violence (DV)
Neighborhood Restorative Justic DV offers a specialized track for domestic violence cases. If a youth presents with a domestic violence charge, the S.T.O.P. (Supporting Teens Overcoming Problems) will be added to the sanctions.
