Surrogate Impacted Parties for Restorative Justice Conferences

In our criminal cases—whether involving more serious harm (like burglary or attempted homicide) or lower-level offenses (like theft or criminal mischief)—there are times when directly harmed individuals cannot or do not wish to participate. In these situations, we seek Surrogate Impacted Parties—volunteers who have experienced a similar type of harm—to represent the human impact in the restorative process.

What You'll Do:
-Join a facilitated Community Conference as a surrogate for the impacted party
-Share your lived experience of a similar harm to help the responsible party understand the deeper impact of their actions
-Support a meaningful and empathetic conversation that focuses on accountability and healing
-Contribute to co-creating repair agreements with the responsible party

Training & Support:
We’ll provide full training through our self-paced Community Conference Training Manual and work closely with you to ensure you feel prepared and supported throughout the process. We welcome volunteers with lived experience across a wide range of harm—from shoplifting to more serious crimes—who feel ready to support others through restorative dialogue.