Yolo County Neighborhood Court

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Are you interested in improving the quality of life in your city? Are you interested in working with your fellow citizens to address the harm to the community caused by crime? Do you believe that you can identify solutions that would help the offender avoid repeating the same mistakes that led to the offense?

The Yolo County District Attorney’s Office is seeking community volunteers for the Neighborhood Court diversion program. Neighborhood Court seeks to address low level crimes through community-based solutions to swiftly redress the harm caused by these offenses outside of the traditional criminal justice system. Neighborhood Court utilizes restorative justice concepts which identify crime as acts that cause harm done to people and communities.

Our volunteer Panelists represent the community's needs, interests, and perspectives with respect to the crime committed. Volunteers meet directly with the Offender in a face-to-face facilitated conference. During the conference, volunteers 1) name the harms the community experiences as a result of the crime, 2) ask questions of the Offender to understand the circumstances around the crime, and 3) and decide together with the Offender the steps that are necessary to make the harm right (as much as possible). This face-to-face dialogue is designed to encourage accountability on the part of the Offender and to arrive at the steps necessary to remedy the situation as fully as possible.

**This is an opportunity is not associated directly Woodland United Way. We simply want to spread the word about available programs. If you reply to this posting, we will give as much information as we can, and will provide contact information for the appropriate agency.