Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA) and Restorative Justice
In recent years, Vermont has received attention for its use of a restorative practice called Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA). The COSA program operates at Community Justice Centers across the state, supported by funding from the Department of Corrections. Read more about CoSA and Restorative Justice in Vermont.
Restorative Justice
Vermont has become a nationally recognized leader in the development of community-based restorative justice and services to victims. The goals of restorative justice approaches are to give affected parties an active voice and role in the process of justice, for those responsible for harm to take responsibility, understand the harm they have caused, make amends, and build or restore relationships in communities that may prevent future harm. Community-based restorative justice processes include not only those directly involved or impacted by crime but also community members who are invested in promoting accountability and reparations.