Center for Justice Reform
Overview
The Center for Justice Reform at Vermont Law and Graduate School is a statewide, regional, national, and international educational and training location for justice reform efforts including restorative justice. The center trains law and graduate students, community members, criminal justice professionals, educators, social service providers, and policymakers. Our center offers courses that focus both on justice reform, working to improve the criminal justice system, as well as restorative justice, working to offer students new approaches to solving problems and meaningfully addressing harm.
Our residential and online educational programs include a Master of Arts in Restorative Justice (MARJ), joint JD/Master of Arts in Restorative Justice, and a Graduate Certificate in Restorative Justice. Coupled with meaningful experiential learning opportunities, students gain the skills to become agents for change within the justice system, schools, nonprofits, and a range of other contexts.
The Center for Justice Reform is uniquely positioned to address deficiencies in our justice systems and to train the next generation of justice leaders. We help our students to understand the history of criminal justice systems and challenges within these systems. Students can take courses in criminal law, victim rights, sexual and domestic violence, and police use of force.
A special aspect of our program is that we offer one of the only graduate programs in restorative justice in the country. Because we are part of Vermont Law and Graduate School, we are the leading program in restorative justice focused on the criminal legal system. However, our restorative justice offerings are not limited to criminal justice; we offer courses in global restorative justice practices like Truth and Reconciliation Commissions as well as how restorative justice can be used in education, environmental policy, social work, and a range of other focus areas. We also offer a course on the Indigenous roots of restorative justice.
What is Restorative Justice?
Restorative justice invites a different approach to harm and conflict, one that focuses on healing and repair. While as complex and unique as every human, a restorative process is equally as flexible and adaptable across situations and systems. Traditional justice outcomes often focus on punishment, where restorative justice allows for repair of broken relationships, an opportunity to address harm caused, and a chance for reflection, learning, and growth.
The Center for Justice Reform Mission
Achieving justice requires new ways to think about and respond to harm, conflict, and crime. Wrongdoings are not just transgressions against government or institutions; harm involves a breach of relationships among individuals. Responding to harm requires more than punishment—more than retribution—the response requires an opportunity for acceptance of responsibility, amends to the aggrieved parties, and the creation of an environment that promotes healing.
By bringing together students committed to developing new ways of thinking about harm with national and international restorative justice leaders, Vermont Law and Graduate School will educate the next generation of leaders, leaders who understand principles and practices of restorative justice who are equipped to infuse systems and communities with principles of problem-solving, dialogue across differences, compassion, and positive change.
People
Staff
Sally Aldrich
- Program Manager, Center for Justice Reform
Quixada Moore-Vissing
- Director, Center for Justice Reform
- Visiting Assistant Professor
Brett Stokes
- Assistant Professor of Law
- Director, Center for Justice Reform Clinic
Osvaldo Viera Martiatu
- Office Manager, Center for Justice Reform Clinic (Burlington Office)
Christopher Worth
- Visiting Assistant Professor
Alicia Foster JD’26
- Program Associate
Kyle Glover JD/MARJ’27
- Program Associate
Clayton Jacobson MARJ’26
- Program Associate
Leyna Schaeffer JD’27/MCEP’24
- Program Associate
Jamelah Zidan JD’28
- Program Associate
Faculty
Dr. Desirée Anderson
- Adjunct Professor
Avery Arrington
- Adjunct Professor
- Assistant Director, NCORJ Training Division
Aviance Brown
- Adjunct Professor
Cara Cookson JD’10
- Adjunct Professor
Dr. Rita Davis-Cannon
- Adjunct Professor
Alex Frank
- Course Developer
Sarah George JD’10
- Adjunct Professor
Sean Horrigan, Ph.D.
- Lecturer
Zachary Hozid JD’17
- Adjunct Professor
Nicole Jenkins-Rosenkrantz
- Adjunct Professor
Jody Kamon
Inga N. Laurent
- Adjunct Professor
Kathleen McGoey
- Adjunct Professor
David Mickenberg
- Adjunct Professor
Arti Mohan
Marshall Pahl
- Adjunct Professor
Alex Pelizzon
- Adjunct Professor
Dr. Lindsey Pointer
- Principal Investigator, National Center on Restorative Justice
- Research Professor
Kay Pranis
- Adjunct Professor
Robert Sand JD’87
- Founding Director, Center for Justice Reform
- Professor of Law
Erika Sasson
- Adjunct Professor
Sarah Scanlon (they/she)
- Adjunct Faculty
Kerriann Stout
- Assistant Professor of Law
Rebecca Turner
- Adjunct Professor
Marc Wennberg
- Adjunct Professor
Center for Justice Reform Degrees and Curriculum
The Center for Justice Reform offers innovative educational and training opportunities for restorative justice both on-campus and online. We also offer “intensive courses” that allow accelerated in-person study that are open both to residential students and online students who wish to come together for brief periods with peers. The center trains law and graduate students, community members, criminal justice professionals, and policymakers in the value of restorative and innovative criminal justice programs.
The Center for Justice Reform offers the following degrees:
Master of Arts in Restorative Justice Required Courses and Electives
| Required Foundational Course (minimum 3 credits) | Writing Requirement (minimum 3 credits) | Trauma Informed Education (minimum 3 credits) | Practice and Facilitation (minimum 5 credits) |
| • Principles of Restorative Justice (3 credits) | • Intro to Policy Research and Writing (3 credits) • Communications, Advocacy, and Leadership (3 credits) • Narrative Writing Seminar (3 credits) • Advanced Writing Seminar (3 credits) • Advocating for Change (3 credits) • Reforming Criminal Justice (3 credits) • Legal Research and Writing for Policymakers (3 credits) | • Adversity, Trauma, and Victimization (3 credits) • New Approaches to Sexual/ Domestic Violence (3 credits) | • RJ Externship (4 credits) • RJ Facilitation (1 credit) • Motivational Interviewing (1 credit) • Teaching Restorative Justice (3 credits) • Advanced Restorative Practices (2 credits) • Restorative Justice Theory and Practice (2 credits) • Foundations of Restorative Justice Facilitation (3 credits) • Justice Reform Clinic (4 credits) |
In addition to the above required credits, MARJ students must also complete a minimum of 9 additional credits from the following courses.
Negotiation (2)
Advanced Criminal Law Seminar (2)
Juvenile Justice and Law (3)
Pleas, Sentencing and Accountability (3)
The State, Families, and Child Protection (3)
Criminal Law (3)
Applied Criminal Justice (3)
Clemency, Pardon, and Expungement (3)
Comparative Justice: Criminal and Restorative Justice (1)
Global Restorative Justice (3)
Global Healing in Policy and Action (3 credits)
Truth and Reconciliation (3)
Designing Restorative Justice (3)
Peacemaking Courts (3)
New Approaches to Domestic and Sexual Violence (3)
Restorative Justice in Educational Institutions (3)
Race, Crimes, and Restorative Justice (3)
Environmental Restorative Justice (3)
Ethics and Restorative Justice (3)
Advanced Victim Rights Seminar (3)
Youth Justice Reimagined (3)
Evidence Based Restorative Justice (3)
Restorative Justice in Indigenous Communities (3)
Restorative Organizational Leadership (3)
Impactful Restorative Justice Careers (2)
Drug Policy Reform (3)
Systems of Advantages and Disadvantages (3)
Alumni
The Center for Justice Reform prepares students in both the master’s and graduate certificate programs to become leaders and advocates in the field of restorative justice at a regional and national level.
Students gain an in-depth understanding of the history of restorative justice domestically, internationally, and cross culturally. Restorative justice courses combine concepts of theory and practices for students to apply in different areas of work.
Our alumni are utilizing restorative justice in a variety of work settings, from nonprofits to schools, from police forces to prisons. Some of our alumni career paths include:
- Restorative Justice Centers
- Attorney General’s Office
- Youth/Adult Diversion Programs
- Police Reform
- Prison Reform and Education
- K-12 Education
- Higher Education
- Research Coordinators
- State Legislature
- Department of Corrections
- The Innocence Project
- Social Work
- Domestic/Sexual Violence Agencies
- Community Development/Organizing
“My vision, is for a system that is more collectively geared towards the betterment of society communities, individuals, the families; everybody.” – Emily Severson MARJ’19, Mitigation Specialist, Public Defender’s Office
A Conversation with Emily Severson MARJ’19
“My focus is on creating those relationships in the community, educating them about restorative practices, building that capacity with partnerships to be able to provide a program outside the legal system.” – Delinda Passas MARJ’20
Alumni Spotlight: Delinda Passas MARJ’20
Immersive, Travel-Based Learning
Vermont Law and Graduate School is currently expanding its offerings around travel-based experiences. These courses and trips are available to both residential and online students.
The CJR currently offers one immersive travel-based experience through the course, Global Healing in Policy and Action. In this course, students travel to Northern Ireland to learn about restorative justice practices, programs, and policies that helped move Northern Ireland toward peace after a period of conflict commonly referred to as “The Troubles.” We are excited to be offering this course again in the summer of 2026.
National Center on Restorative Justice
In addition to our Center for Justice Reform on campus, Vermont Law and Graduate School is home to the National Center on Restorative Justice (NCORJ), which is a partnership shared between Vermont Law and Graduate School, the University of Vermont, the University of San Diego, and the U.S. Office of Justice Programs. The NCORJ is funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) to educate and train the next generation of justice leaders and to support and lead research focusing on restorative justice and addressing social challenges to improve criminal justice policy and practice in the United States.
The purpose of the NCORJ is to:
- Educate and train the next generation of justice leaders on restorative justice to improve criminal justice policy and practice in the US.
- Support and lead research focusing on restorative justice and addressing challenges in the US criminal legal system.
To learn more about the National Center on Restorative Justice and access resources, visit NCORJ.org.
Center for Justice Reform Clinic
The Center for Justice Reform Clinic (CJRC) focuses on addressing harms in the criminal justice field, with a focus on vulnerable populations. The clinic’s work to date has centered on immigration.
The CJRC supports JD and master’s students for three semesters per academic year to repair harms caused by the punitive criminal and immigration legal systems.
As one of Vermont’s only legal service providers representing individuals in immigration court, the CJRC empowers students to develop professional habits and essential advocacy skills through judicial, administrative, and legislative advocacy; survivor-centered legal services; partner-driven movement lawyering; and restorative practices. CJRC’s services help migrants and their families understand their rights and protections under federal and state law, including advice about the immigration process.
Center for Justice Reform Special Events
The Center for Justice Reform often hosts events related to restorative justice and criminal justice reform. These events take place on and off campus, as well as online. Past events have included discussions on drug policy reform, NARCAN trainings, documentary screenings, and an international conference on restorative justice.
One of our online speakers series, “Healing Communities to Heal the World,” addresses the harms that are felt at a community level, as well as restorative practices that have been used to heal from these harms. Past sessions have discussed community healing related to environmental disasters, public health crises, and economic depression.
Watch one of the most recent events in the series below: Compassionate, Community-Centered Responses to the Drug Crisis.
To view the entire series, please visit our CJR Speaker Series page.
Center for Justice Reform News
Faculty and Staff in the News – December 2025
January 8Below is a selection of recent news highlights featuring members of Vermont Law and Graduate School’s faculty and staff. Homeowners Sue Oil Companies as Climate Damage D…
Faculty and Staff in the News – October 2025
November 5Below is a selection of recent news highlights featuring members of Vermont Law and Graduate School’s faculty and staff. American College of Tax Counsel Elects New Fello…
Center for Justice Reform Resumes Webinar Series on Oct. 29
October 10“Healing Communities to Heal the World” Provides Tools to Respond and Rebuild in the Wake of Community Traumas SOUTH ROYALTON, Vt. (October 10, 2025) — Vermont Law and G…
Faculty and Staff in the News – September 2025
October 9Below is a selection of recent news highlights featuring members of Vermont Law and Graduate School’s faculty and staff. 13 Foods You Should NEVER Eat After They Expire,…
Contact Us
Center for Justice Reform
at Vermont Law and Graduate School
164 Chelsea St.
PO Box 96
South Royalton, VT 05068
802-831-1262
justicereform@vermontlaw.edu
To reach the Center for Justice Reform Clinic, please contact:
802-540-0398
cjrclinic@vermontlaw.edu
Stay up to date on CJR events, programs, and news related to restorative justice and justice reform by signing up for our quarterly newsletter!
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