Our Restorative Services

Repairing harm.

Strengthening accountability.

Building safer communities.

Conflict and harm affect every community. At Connection First, we believe that accountability is most meaningful when people have the opportunity to understand the impact of their actions, repair harm whenever possible, and move forward in a way that strengthens individuals, relationships, and community safety.

Through restorative practices, we partner with the criminal legal system, schools, and community members to create structured opportunities for dialogue, accountability, and healing.

Whether a referral comes from a lawyer, school administrator, law enforcement officer, or a family seeking support, our goal remains the same: helping people repair harm and build stronger communities.

Start Your Referral

Why Restorative Practices?

Systems often focus on what rule was broken and what punishment should follow.

Restorative practices ask different questions:

Who has been harmed?
What are their needs?
Who has a responsibility to repair the harm?
What can be done to reduce the likelihood of future harm?

Rather than replacing punitive systems, restorative practices complement them by creating opportunities for meaningful accountability, victim participation, and lasting behavior change.

Every restorative process is voluntary, carefully prepared, and facilitated by trained professionals to ensure participants feel safe, respected, and heard.

Referral Pathways

Connection First accepts referrals through three pathways, allowing us to meet people where conflict occurs while tailoring our services to the unique needs of each situation.

Criminal Legal System and School-Based Referrals are available in Leon County.

Community-Based Referrals are available nationwide.

For youth 13+ and adults involved in criminal offenses.

We work alongside prosecutors, defense attorneys, law enforcement, probation, schools, and other justice partners to facilitate restorative justice conferences that promote accountability, give impacted parties a voice, and support safer communities.

Common referrals include RJ as part of:

Diversion and Deferred Prosecution Agreements
Plea agreements
Probation cases
Post-conviction cases
Criminal incidents occurring on school campuses

These services are free.

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We help schools use restorative practices to build, maintain, and repair relationships. Healthy school communities are built through relationships, accountability, and opportunities for students to learn from mistakes.

Connection First partners with some schools within Leon County Schools by facilitating restorative justice conferences, training educators, and coaching school staff to build long-term restorative capacity.

Services include:

Restorative Justice & Restorative Re-Entry Conference Facilitation
Restorative Practices and Nonviolent Communication educator training
Implementation coaching

These services are free for certain schools we are currently partnered with.

For non-criminal conflicts involving individuals, families, organizations, or businesses.

Not every conflict belongs in court. Many people simply need a safe, structured process to have difficult conversations, understand one another, and identify a path forward together.

We offer facilitated restorative dialogues to help participants address harm and work toward meaningful resolution.

Common referrals include:

Family conflict
Neighbor disputes
Workplace conflict
Faith communities
Community organizations
Friends and roommates

Service charges vary; an estimate will be provided after an initial consultation.

These services are currently available nationwide. Contact us to learn more.

Some scenarios of community harm that could benefit from RJ are below. It's important to note this list is NOT exhaustive, but rather a few examples to provide an idea of what might be appropriate for RJ.

A Domestic Dispute

One partner is angry with the other and keys their car. Car owner does not want to press charges, but would like to handle the dispute in a safe, respectful, and effective manner.

Roommate Dispute

One roommate accidentally runs over the other’s cat while drunk. They feel terrible about it, but the cat owner is incredibly angry with the roommate.

Neighbor Dispute

Neighbor A lies to neighbor B about the timing of an HOA meeting because they don’t want neighbor B to be able to vote on a pressing neighborhood matter. Neighbor B learns of the lie after the meeting and wants neighbor A to take accountability. Others in the neighborhood hear of the lie and also want neighbor A to make it right. Neighbor A feels remorse for their actions and also wants to make things right again.

Friend Dispute

Friend A promises to help friend B move to a new apartment. Friend A forgets, makes other plans, doesn’t pick up the moving van like they said they would, and friend B is delayed in moving out in time because they are doing it themselves, they get stuck paying extra fees for not moving out in time, and they throw out their back trying to move large pieces of furniture by themselves.

Our Impact

Since launching Leon County's first adult Restorative Justice Program in 2024, Connection First has continued expanding restorative services through strong partnerships with the criminal legal system, organizations, and now in Leon County Schools.

100+
Referrals Received

400+
Individual Client Meetings

34
Restorative Conferences Facilitated

95%
Participant Satisfaction

97%
Would Recommend Our Services

100%
Agreement Completion

5.9%

Recidivism Rate for Criminal Cases Completed

0
New Violent Offenses Among Program Completers

These outcomes reflect more than successful conferences—they represent people taking responsibility, impacted parties being heard, relationships being repaired, and communities becoming safer.

What Participants Are Saying

The most meaningful measure of our work is the experience of the people we serve.

Being Heard

"I think it is so important for victims to be able to safely share how incidents impact them and that they are heard."

“It was an opportunity to revisit the event as it occurred and bring understanding and initiate a conversation in a safe and controlled environment that did not leave the matter ignored.”

"It meant a lot to me, to have someone who understood what I wanted and help me get there, and not only just help me get there, but make sure that the accountability and the acknowledgement would be what I was getting."

Understanding Impact

"Knowing how I truly made others feel."

“I now have a better understanding of the other party and how they felt, I will take this and use for the future.”

“I think that it is so important for victims to be able to safely share how incidents impact them and that they are heard.”

Finding a Way Forward

“You guys are Amazing! What you ladies do is so IMPORTANT!! Thank you for what you brought to my table!! I've never felt as good as I do. When talking about my past with you two it felt safe and respectful!”

“Call Connection First! The process was helpful and hopeful and that many needs for connection and healing.”

“It’s the best way for understanding and solution in my opinion.”

"A meaningful methodology to move forward with; dialogue between the offender and other impacted parties."

“We understand each other a lot better.”

Strengthening Relationships

“I witnessed a sense of relief and a heavy burden lifted.”

"I believe our community got stronger and we cleared up some misconceptions."

“I witnessed a sense of relief and a heavy burden lifted.”

"I believe our community got stronger and we cleared up some misconceptions."

Trusted by Our Community

Connection First is proud to partner with organizations across the criminal legal system, education, and the broader community to expand access to restorative practices.

Learn More About Our Partners.

READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP?

Whether you're an attorney looking to refer a criminal case, a school seeking restorative support, or someone looking to resolve conflict within your community, we'd love to help determine whether restorative practices are the right fit.

Start Your Referral

Want to Know More?

Download resources that will help you understand our services and their benefits to our community.

Restorative Services Flyer

RJ Fact Sheet