In order to serve their community’s
needs, most of Colorado’s local restorative justice programs have to
raise money beyond whatever government support they may receive.
Can you imagine if the corrections department had to do bake
sales and fashion shows to afford to run their prisons? It is a crime
that more of our tax dollars aren’t reallocated from the costly prison
system to more cost-effective, life-affirming restorative justice
programs.
Each Colorado prisoner costs taxpayers about $30,000 per year.
For the cost of only ten prisoners, a community-based restorative
justice process could help hundreds of people who commit crimes and are
ready to be held accountable for their actions.
In restorative justice, because victims are heard and
offenders repair the harm of their crime, they become higher
functioning citizens able to work and make a contribution to their
community, including paying their share of taxes.
Why aren’t our legislators suggesting reallocation of criminal
justice resources to restorative justice along with their other budget
cutting ideas?
Your donation helps Prison Fellowship International repair the harm caused by crime by emphasizing accountability, forgiveness, and making amends for prisoners and those affected by their actions. When victims, offenders, and community members meet to decide how to do that, the results are transformational.
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