No. RED operates in cohorts, with cohorts beginning in January and graduating in December.

RED utilizes the annual report data provided by Georgia’s Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform to engineer program curriculums. The Georgia Council on Criminal Justice Reform is a fifteen-member, non-partisan state commission tasked with conducting annual comprehensive reviews of the entire criminal justice system in order to optimize criminal proceedings, accountability courts and the allocation of general tax fund dollars in the state of Georgia.

Yes! The Georgia Center for Opportunity estimates that the state averages a 50% recidivism rate. Based on the data available to us, we estimate that RED has a 5% recidivism rate.

RED administers intake and exit forms to all participants. We use these as pre-post tests to gauge the effectiveness of RED’s Restorative Justice Curriculum. We also gauge success on recidivism statistics, cost-effectiveness, and post-program indicators such as the ability of participants to gain employment or progress academically.

Georgia has several public accountability and diversion programs that are similar to RED. However, we believe our program to be more comprehensive.

Yes! Typical adjudication within Georgia costs taxpayers roughly $20,000 per individual. RED costs roughly $7,500 per individual.

RED is funded through foundations, private corporations and individual donors.

RED’s Restorative Justice program costs roughly $7,500 per individual. However, it is free for the participant. RED is funded through donors, foundations and private corporations.

The program is free to participants in the program. The direct program costs are roughly $60,000-$75,000 depending on the cohort size.

If an individual fails to complete the program, they return to the prosecution track. This means that they would be scheduled to appear in court which could lead to a conviction and possible incarceration and/or probation.

If an individual fails to complete the program, they return to the prosecution track. This means that they would be scheduled to appear in court which could lead to a conviction and possible incarceration and/or probation.

Generally, record restriction takes between 30 and 180 days. This is contingent on the volume of cases eligible for record restriction within the jurisdiction.

Yes! Following successful completion of the program, participants will have their records restricted.

The only way to enroll in RED’s Restorative Justice Program is to be charged with a crime in a jurisdiction that administers the RED program. You would then need to be selected by the prosecuting official.

RED partners with prosecuting officials that determine whether an individual is eligible for RED’s Restorative Justice Program by reviewing the individual’s criminal record and pending charges. To qualify for orientation, individuals must not have an extensive criminal record and their current charges must not be violent in nature.

Currently, only non-violent offenders within the DeKalb County Superior Court jurisdiction are eligible. RED is anticipate expand into other Georgia jurisdictions commencing in 2021.

RED’s Restorative Justice Program is 12 months in length. Each month consists of a unique educational module.

RED is a pre-adjudication diversion program. What that means: RED participants are not required to enter a guilty plea, they do not face incarceration or probation. RED participants are initially on the court’s docket to sit before a judge and face prosecution. When they are selected for RED, a decision made by the prosecuting official, they are removed from the court’s docket and scheduled for program orientation. If they successfully complete the requirements of RED’s restorative justice curriculum, they will remain off of the prosecution track, and will have their case’s dismissed and their records restricted (expunged).

Yes! We are always looking for partners in the fight against recidivism. This includes in-kind products and services.

Yes! We estimate that it costs roughly $7,500 per participant for a year of programming. If you’d like to sponsor a participant please reach out to us at info@stoprecidivism.org.

You can support RED in a number of ways! The biggest need and most impactful is through financial contributions. Providing in-kind products and services is also extremely helpful. You can also advocate for RED! Many of our successes have come from word-of-mouth relationships. Tell your family and friends about the importance of this work! Sign up for our newsletter to stay current on our progress.

Each mentor-mentee relationship is unique. Some mentees will want more face-to-face contact than others. At a minimum, we suggest meeting on a bi-weekly frequency.

We vet mentors on a case by case basis, however, a criminal record isn’t an eliminating factor. In fact, a criminal record often helps a mentor relate to the current situation of the mentee (if you haven’t’ read up on our founder, he has been arrested thirteen times).

It depends on your relationship with your mentee. On average, we see mentors spending 1-2 hours per week between face-to face meetings, texts, or phone calls.

Prior to mentors meeting their mentees, RED hosts a mentor program overview followed by a training session. We worked closely with a consultant who developed the mentor-mentee program within the DeKalb County Public School System. With their help, we created a comprehensive mentor training manual. We walk each mentor through this manual during the training session and answer any questions that may arise. Mentors also receive a copy of the manual that can be used throughout the 12 month period. We also have a Director of Mentorship Programs who is available to assist and support mentors throughout the year.

Yes! RED provides a program overview and training to all mentors prior to being matched with a mentee. We also have experienced, professional mentors available to answer any questions you may have along the way.

Being able to relate to your mentee is the main component in building trust. We find that mentor-mentee relationships bloom when both parties have shared experiences. Other important qualities are being an active listener and being reliable. It is important that you show up when and where you say you will. Mentor and mentee engagement requires patience, understanding and compassion. It is not your role to discipline or change your mentee, but to understand your mentee and guide their development.

Start by signing up for our newsletter. In due course, RED will offer it’s Restorative Justice Curriculum via a cloud based online platform. Users will be able to log in to a dashboard complete with all of RED’s social, civic and financial literacy modules. If you want to learn more about how to acquire digital curriculum licenses, please send us an email – info@stoprecidivism.org.

Yes! We have our annual Flag Football Tournament Fundraiser, and we also have various events throughout the year. The best way to stay informed is to sign up for the newsletter to get RED’s updates as they become available.

We are always looking for guest writers! Learn more here.

We work with an organization, Jobrise, that provides second-chance opportunities for our participants. We can put you in contact with them, or, you can contact us directly at info@stoprecidivsm.org.

Of course! David, our founder, is a frequent guests for rotary meetings, criminal justice forums, news & radio, and other community gatherings. We’d love the opportunity to speak to your audience! Please reach out to us at info@stoprecidivsm.org for more information.

Yes! If you no longer wish to receive the newsletter you can unsubscribe by clicking “unsubscribe” located at the bottom of the monthly newsletter.

The newsletter provides a general recap of the the prior months RED related activities. We also include upcoming events, RED videos, and the most up-to-date blogs.

The newsletter is sent out on a monthly basis. It is typically sent the first week of each month.

You can sign up for the newsletter here!

Everyone! Incarceration is expensive and generally ineffective! Roughly 50% of those incarcerated will reoffend within three years following their release. In a study conducted by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, researchers found that 1,729 participants who went through alternative court programs generated over $38 million in economic benefits to Georgia. In comparison, incarceration of those same individuals would cost the state roughly $34 million. These savings can be used in local schools, to fix potholes, or whatever the need is in your community!

Civic literacy – the knowledge and skills to participate effectively in civic life through knowing how to stay informed, understanding governmental processes, and knowing how to exercise the rights and obligations of citizenship at local, state, national, and global levels.

Financial literacy – the possession of the set of skills and knowledge that allows an individual to make informed and effective decisions with all of their financial resources, including banking, budgeting, and credit.

Social literacy – the development of cognitive, emotional and intellectual capabilities to interact positively in a defined society.

Rehabilitation – the action of restoring someone to health or normal life through training and therapy after imprisonment, addiction, or illness.

Restorative Justice is a broad term that is often defined in many different ways. Here at RED, we view Restorative Justice as a system that focuses on rehabilitation rather than punitive measures. We believe the path to productive citizens is through education, not incarceration.

Record Restriction refers to sealing a participants criminal record so that the charges are no longer visible to potential employers, landlords, educational institutions, etc. In Georgia, this process was formerly known as expungement.

Recidivism is the tendency of a person who has committed a crime to reoffend. In Georgia, the recidivism rate, on average, is roughly 50%. This means that 50% of all people who commit a crime will reoffend. In our four years of operation RED has produced an estimated 5% recidivism rate.