If you have never been in your local jail, now is the time. This tour, led by Col Martin Kumer, superintendent of the jail, will offer a glimpse at conditions in the jail. The Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail was built in 1974 and currently houses about 230 people who are awaiting trial or serving sentences not long enough for a larger prison. This eye opening tour and discussion of mental health, rehabilitation, and re-entry will help local residents aiming to increase empathy and understanding for those returning to society.

Following the tour, Central Virginia Community Justice will facilitate a reflection on the experience, and an introduction to how CVCJ is offering restorative justice as an alternative to incarceration. These sessions are offered as part of the 13th annual Tom Tom Festival, in collaboration with Equal Justice USA.

• There will be 6 tours – 3 on Wed. 4/16 and 3 on Thur. 4/17
• Morning Session: 9:30 am – 11:30 am 
• Afternoon Session: 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm
• Evening Session: 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Each jail tour is limited to 8 participants and registration is required. To register for the Jail Tour, please go to this SignUpGenius page.

Date: Thur. Sep. 26 2024 5:30-7:30pm

Location: The Jefferson School, 233 4th St. NW Charlottesville VA 22903

Join us for an evening of reflection, connection, and inspiration as we celebrate the strides made toward justice and explore ways to expand our impact. This event will celebrate and highlight CVCJ’s impactful restorative justice work from the past year. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear inspiring stories of how CVCJ’s restorative practices have fostered justice and safety within the community. The evening will provide a unique platform for community members who share a commitment to justice and healing to connect and collaborate.

WITH SPECIAL GUESTS: 

Meghan Nayak, Vera Institute of Justice

Sarah Peaslee, CVCJ Restorative Justice Participant

As Mother Teresa famously said, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” Your presence at “Ripples of Justice” will help us continue creating those ripples, fostering a more just and equitable community.

Learn more and reserve your ticket here.

Many thanks to our event sponsors, Soul Food Joint, Tip Top Restaurant, Wegmans, and Harvest Moon Catering. (Additional sponsorship opportunities are available; please contact info@communityjusticeva.org for more information.)

Date/Time: 2nd Tuesday of the month (April 9, May 14, June 11 2024), 11:30am-12:30pm

Location: Region Ten Blue Ridge Center, 100 Burnet St. Charlottesville VA 22902

Have you been charged with a crime or caused harm to someone and wish there was a way to make amends directly to the person you harmed? Have you been harmed by someone and want support handling the situation outside of the criminal legal system? Do you want to learn more about how CVCJ helps community members direct their own healing and accountability, whether they are involved with the criminal legal system or not? CVCJ provides adults and youth with a way to resolve incidents of harm that is focused on healing, safety, and repair.

Stop by, enjoy some snacks, and speak with us about our services and if restorative justice may be right for you.

No registration required. See all of Blue Ridge Center’s programs here.

Date: Wed. April 17, 2024

• Morning Session: 9:30 am – 11:30 am
• Afternoon Session: 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm
• Evening Session: 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Location: Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail, 160 Peregory Ln, Charlottesville, VA 22902

If you have never been in your local jail, now is the time. This tour, led by Col. Martin Kumer, superintendent of the jail, will offer a glimpse at conditions in the jail. Following the tour, a Central Virginia Community Justice representative will facilitate a reflection on the experience, and an introduction to how CVCJ is offering restorative justice as an alternative to incarceration.

This event is free but requires pre-registration. Please email samh@ejusa.org to reserve a spot. Space is limited!

Date/Time: Friday, April 19, 2024 10:00am

Location: CitySpace on the downtown mall. NOTE: “CitySpace” does not show up on Google Maps; use 100 5th Street NE. CitySpace is located at the corner of the downtown mall and 5th Street NE – go up the brick stairs located by the parking garage elevator and through the glass doors.

When conflict, harm or crime happens, where can those involved get support if they want to talk it through? This panel discussion brings together numerous organizations in Charlottesville who provide support for these conversations. Come to build our community’s conflict-competency by learning what resources are available to you, whether you are in conflict with a landlord, co-parent, neighbor, friend, police officer, or anyone who has hurt or harmed you.

• Moderator: Eddie Howard, Abundant Life Ministries. Panelists: Erin Campbell, Central Virginia Community Justice; Taylor Frome, Mediation Center of Charlottesville; Inez Gonzalez, Police Civilian Oversight Board; Todd Niemeier, Charlottesville Human Rights Commission & Office of Human Rights; Brian Page, BUCK Squad

This event is free and does not require pre-registration. Find more information on the Tom Tom Festival website. 

Date & Time: Tue. April 23, 2024 6:00-7:15pm

Location: Online

This event will address the intersection of two of the most powerful (and problematic) systems in our community: transportation and criminal justice. When someone is harmed by traffic violence, how should the legal system respond?

One approach is primarily punitive/carceral, while another approach downplays the severity of the harm caused. A restorative justice model attempts to avoid the pitfalls of these two approaches and has recently become a criminal diversion option in Charlottesville and Albemarle.

Erin Campbell, Co-Director of Central VA Community Justice and Shannon Neal, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney for Albemarle County will discuss this model. We will also hear from the survivor & the driver of a local hit and run case who chose the restorative justice option.

This presentation is free and open to the public. To register: https://events.humanitix.com/traffic-violence-and-restorative-justice