Thirty years ago, Lana Leonard and Beverly Title wanted to address school bullying, school violence and multicultural storytelling. The duo partnered with the Longmont Police Department and the St. Vrain Valley School District to bring restorative justice to Longmont’s youth. This began the Longmont Community Justice Partnership, or LCJP.
“She (Title) was an educator in St. Vrain … and recognized that there was a real challenge with kids who were having behavioral issues in school and them becoming isolated from their learning communities and recognizing that this isn’t helpful,” said Shalene Onyango, executive director of LCJP.
Title and Leonard were passionate about making sure Longmont’s youth were able to learn from the mistakes they made, learn how to communicate through tough issues and not be separated from their education in the process.
This idea has continued at LCJP. Today, the nonprofit organization works with youth in the community and teaches them new skills to navigate situations. In partnership with the Longmont Police Department, youth are no longer ticketed for their mistakes — unless it is an arrestable offense — through the REWIND program, Onyango said. These offenses can include graffiti or breaking curfew.
LCJP also works with adults. The Longmont Police Department can refer cases to the nonprofit for people who need a second chance. The nonprofit then counsels the offender and helps them understand the responsibility they need to assume for the mistake they made. The organization also allows room for the victims to seek closure by conveying the impact the crime had on them.
Over the past 30 years, LCJP has served over 10,000 people, 75% of whom are youth.
LCJP also trains local schools, community-based organizations and school resource officers to identify when restorative justice practices are needed and to teach preventive practices.
LCJP has seen amazing results with its work. The recidivism rate for those going through the program is 10%, according to Onyango.
On June 8, LCJP will celebrate 30 years of restorative justice work in the Longmont community. It will host a celebration at the Longmont Musuem from 5-9 p.m. that is free and open to the public. During the event, the nonprofit organization will host an award ceremony, recognizing local efforts in restorative justice. There will also be family-friendly events such as a mobile arcade, bounce house and live music. Registration is required.
Onyango said LCJP has a bright future ahead of it. The organization is expecting to expand its efforts to serve a wider community. It hopes to help other schools in the area along with community-based organizations to spread its restorative justice success beyond Longmont.
