For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Winthrop Police Department Joins Communities For Restorative Justice

WINTHROP — Police Chief Terence M. Delehanty is pleased to announce that the Winthrop Police Department has become the first in Suffolk County to join Communities for Restorative Justice.

Communities for Restorative Justice (C4RJ) is a community-police partnership that offers restorative justice to those affected by crime using a “circle” model, which recognizes that crime is as much a violation of people and relationships as it is a violation of the law.

“By working with C4RJ, our department will become more involved in addressing crime on a personal level, which allows offenders to take true accountability for their actions,” Chief Delehanty said. “The restorative justice model has been tremendously effective in other communities, and I have no doubt that we’ll have similar success finding meaningful resolutions that will help mitigate the impact crime has on victims.”Police Chief Terence M. Delehanty is pleased to announce that the Winthrop Police Department has become the first in Suffolk County to join Communities for Restorative Justice.

Through C4RJ, partner communities are able to augment the traditional criminal justice process by providing victims of crime an opportunity to address the person who harmed them and share ideas of how the damage can be repaired. Additionally, the process enables offenders to better understand the impact of their actions and be held responsible for making amends.

Winthrop Police will work with community organizations like One Winthrop in order to recruit volunteers to serve as facilitators.

A newly-implemented piece of legislation promotes restorative justice programs either in lieu of or in partnership with the court system.

“I am extremely excited to welcome Winthrop into our program, and am so excited to see this model adopted for the first time in Suffolk County,” C4RJ Executive Director Erin Freeborn said. “Chief Delehanty and his officers have a strong appreciation for how impactful restorative justice can be, and I’m looking forward to working with them.”

C4RJ is currently partnered with more than 20 police departments in Middlesex County, as well as the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.

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