As a part of our initiative,  Communities in Communication Through Restorative Justice, to make Restorative Justice practices more accessible and easier to understand, we have created a toolkit highlighting the key elements of a focus group. It also includes a video demonstration of a focus group!   Check it out.  Interested in learning more about focus groups? Know someone that might be interested in focus groups? Check out and share this quick and easy to understand focus

Legislation that strengthens Restorative Justice initiatives helps build safer, more resilient communities by shifting the focus from punishment to healing. These laws empower those harmed to have a voice in resolution while supporting individuals who caused harm in taking meaningful responsibility. Such measures reduce recidivism, address the root causes of conflict, and promote stronger relationships within communities. As a result, Restorative Justice legislation fosters l

Youth recidivism is a pressing issue with long-term social implications. High rates of recidivism for youth involved in the juvenile justice system suggest that the system often fails to address the root causes of harmful behavior ( 1 ). A significant portion of youth who enter the juvenile justice system end up reoffending, caught in a cycle that limits their options while simultaneously not properly addressing underlying causes and roots of such behavior ( 2 ).  The roots c

As a part of our initiative, Communities in Communication Through Restorative Justice, to make restorative justice practices more accessible and easier to understand, we have created a toolkit highlighting the key elements of a circle. It also includes a video demonstration of a circle!   Check it out.  Interested in learning more about circles? Know someone that might be interested in circles? Check out and share this quick and easy to understand circle toolkit on our websit

As a part of our initiative, Communities in Communication Through Restorative Justice, to make restorative justice practices more accessible and easier to understand, we have created a toolkit highlighting the key elements of mediation. It also includes a video demonstration of mediation!   Interested in learning more about mediation? Know someone that might be interested in mediation? Check out and share this quick and easy to understand mediation toolkit on our website: cys

Restorative Justice (RJ) creates space for conversations that might not otherwise happen. It empowers those directly involved in a harm...

Civic habits can and should begin at an early age. Kids who are engaged are more likely to vote, volunteer, and advocate later in life....

Local government representatives make decisions that affect our everyday lives. These decisions impact schools, policing, housing,...

Autism is a common developmental disability that may not always be immediately recognized during interactions with law enforcement....

Generational trauma, also called intergenerational trauma, is when the effects of a traumatic experience are passed down from parents to...

The restorative justice process prioritizes healing and empowers the harmed party to have greater control over the type of restitution...

This month is Developmental Disabilities Awareness month, which focuses on “the importance of fostering a society where people with...

When examining the current state of restorative justice, criminal justice reform, and racial justice work, you will find an innumerable...

Hear from circle facilitator, Kruti Parekh, to learn about the basics of participating in a circle process. Watch the whole webinar, "A...

On November 14th, Centinela Youth Services hosted a live and virtual community circle discussion. We invited students, school staff,...

CYS just wrapped up our 2nd Community Mediator Institute (CMI) training series in Lennox, CA. CMI is a 30-hour training focused on...

Last week, April 22-26, was National Crime Victim Awareness Week, a time dedicated to honoring and recognizing the rights of crime...

How to Support Kids with ADHD Attention-Deficit Disorder, more popularly known as ADHD, is a common disorder found in both kids and...

According to a recent LA County Hate Crime report , 72% of hate crimes are of a violent nature, 57% of hate crimes are racially...