In most cases when a minor has committed a crime, the legal system leans toward rehabilitating the youngster rather than compensating the victim. The Santa Clara County Juvenile Probation Department developed the Restorative Justice Program to change all of that.

A resident for 12 years, Brenda Larson has been a volunteer with the youth justice program for a year. Having been on both sides of this issue, she believes that the program will be beneficial to everyone—the youth offenders, the victim and the community.

"I've made mistakes myself as a teenager," Larson says. "I've also been a victim of a crime, and if I had had a chance to express my feelings then, things would've been better for me."

Larson, a parent of two teenagers, says she has always been interested in issues concerning youth. She has a bachelor's degree in sociology with an emphasis in criminology and is program supervisor for NOVA (North Valley Job Training Consortium), based in downtown Sunnyvale.

Anne Davenport, another Sunnyvale volunteer, has intermittently lived in the city since 1952. Davenport says her experience while working at the Elmwood Prison in Milpitas had a lot to do with her volunteering for the program.

"I thought this program might be a way to keep some of these youngsters out of places like Elmwood," Davenport says.

Working through the Santa Clara County Literacy Program, Davenport worked in the prison library while inmates came in to check out books.

According to Brad Kinne, supervising probation officer for the county, the restorative justice program is for first- and second-time misdemeanor offenders. Although the program does admit felons occasionally, the district attorney has to approve it in writing.

Though some of the crimes may not seem very serious, the impact on the victim and the community often is, Kinne says, adding that this type of an intervention program helps to minimize the negative consequences.

"It's been extremely well-received," Kinne says. "This program is all over the country."

What the program entails is direct communication among the minor offender, parents or guardians of the minor, community volunteers, a youth intervention worker and, in some cases, the victim. All parties are present at the weekly Neighborhood Accountability Board meetings, when community members discuss the offense and its repercussions in detail.

Although the presence of the victim is not required, the intervention worker reads out a detailed statement by the victim. If present, the victim often addresses the assailant and takes the opportunity to speak out about how the minor's actions affected his or her life.

"We try to see the big picture and make everyone else see it as well," Larson says.

However, a lot of work is done before the meeting is called. The intervention worker—the only paid staff member from the county in this program—gathers extensive information about the minor and the parents or guardians. Through many interviews and meetings, the county worker is able to find out about the youth's situation at home and in school, relationships among family members and the situation surrounding the offense. The county worker brings this background information back to the board meetings for discussion, after which a suitable contract is drawn up for the minor to sign.

"The idea is to hold the minor accountable," Kinne says. "The minor is also given the opportunity to repair the harm to the victim and to the community."

Several different aspects are considered before the group reaches a consensus, Larson says.

"We take into account the youth's interests, as well as his situation," she explains.

Possible restitutions include several hours of community service and letters of apology to the victim. In some cases the board imposes fines on the minors, for which the parents or guardians are responsible. The offenders often agree to tutor other youth, either in subjects for school or in other interests, such as art or music.

Once the contract is signed, the county worker ensures that the youth follows through on the commitment. Honoring the contract works to the youth's advantage, as it wipes the crime slate clean, Kinne says.

"We've had an 85­95 percent success rate with this program," he adds.

If the offender stays out of trouble for two years after honoring the contract with the board or until he turns 18, his case is deemed a success.

Upon completion of the contract, there is a ceremony, which the youth attends along with the parents and guardians. Although many parents are at first skeptical and hesitant about having their children commit to the contract in the beginning, their outlook often changes completely by the end.

"Parents say the community service has been a tremendous experience for them and their children," Davenport says.

According to Davenport, parents say the offenders' personalities have changed completely after they complete their contracts.

"Rather than punitive, it was restorative," she says.

Although the program is funded by the State of California's Crime Prevention Act of 2000 and partly underwritten by the county, community volunteers are a big part of its success, he says.

"The neighborhoods and community members make the major decisions regarding the offenders," says Jerre Lynn Rountree, probation community coordinator for Santa Clara County. "The probation department is involved only with recruiting the volunteers."

The volunteer recruitment process involves an application, fingerprinting and a thorough background screening by the probation department, Rountree explains. Volunteers must be 18 years or older and are required to serve a minimum term of one year. Although recruitment happens countywide, volunteers interested in serving Sunnyvale have to be a resident or the owner of a business in the city.

After recruitment, volunteers undergo extensive ongoing training in values and principles of restorative justice, effective communication skills and working as a team.

"We attend bimonthly meetings on an ongoing basis," Larson adds.

To enhance the training, guest speakers, including public safety officers, are brought in to address the volunteers during the meetings.

"There is a continued effort to help the youth in a positive way," Larson says.

Rountree says that although there are 25 volunteers on board, more volunteers are needed to fill the growing demand. Training sessions are scheduled for Oct. 19 and 21. More sessions are scheduled for the upcoming months.

Those interested in volunteering for the Restorative Justice Program should call Jerre Lynn Rountree, the probation community coordinator, at 408.316.9182.