Connection First

Connection First, is a nonprofit serving Florida's 2nd Judicial Circuit dedicated to cultivating peace and healing through human connection. We work with individuals, families, and neighborhoods impacted by crime and conflict to create opportunities for dialogue, accountability, and meaningful repair. Grounded in restorative practices and nonviolent communication, we believe in the power of human connection to transform harm and build stronger, more resilient communities. Restorative Justice is a practice rooted in Indigenous and community traditions that focuses on healing rather than punishment. It centers the needs of those impacted by harm while holding those who caused harm accountable in meaningful ways. RJ brings people together in facilitated dialogue to discuss what happened, how it affected everyone involved, and what can be done to repair the harm as best as possible. Volunteers play a vital role in this process by representing the community and helping keep these conversations grounded, compassionate, and forward-looking. We always are looking for volunteers to participate in RJ conferences (called the Community Conferencing Model) for when two situations occur. 1. Community Representative – For Criminal Cases With No Direct Harmed Party and 2. Surrogate Impacted Party – Typically for More Serious Harm Criminal Cases

We offer Restorative Justice (RJ) as an alternative or complement to the traditional justice system. Our program brings together those responsible for harm, those impacted by it, and trained community members to participate in a structured, facilitated conversation. Together, they explore what happened, how people were affected, and what can be done to repair harm, and prevent something like that from happening again. Our restorative conferences can lead to powerful outcomes: reduced recidivism, stronger community ties, and personal healing. We serve all counties in Florida’s Second Judicial Circuit and work closely with State Attorneys, Public Defenders, neighborhood associations, universities, and community organizations to ensure RJ is accessible and impactful. We are funded by the City of Tallahassee and per our Contract, we serve adults responsible for harm who are 18 and up at time of referral to our program. We can work with impacted parties who are under 18.