Restorative Justice Program
From 2000 to 2011 PACT for Families hosted a Restorative Justice Program that provided Circle Sentencing for youth in trouble with the law. By agreeing to participate in the Circle Sentencing process, a youth is able to come to understand the impact of his/her crime and work toward correcting the harm caused by the crime without actually being sentenced in court and without the resulting criminal record. Circles are made up of volunteers who meet twice a month with the youth and a supportive family member. Through the Circle process, the youth agrees to complete certain goals in lieu of a court sentence. Initially, the PACT for Families program offered the Circle experience in two counties, Kandiyohi and Yellow Medicine. In the summer of 2007 the Yellow Medicine County Board assumed financial responsibility for Circle Sentencing in their county and hired a Circle Sentencing Coordinator specifically for Yellow Medicine County. Pact for Families continued to host the Circle Sentencing program for Kandiyohi County until the Summer of 2011 when the program was transferred to the County Attorney’s office. PACT for Families continues to provide financial and other assistance to the Kandiyohi program and will continue to provide program information and appropriate links on this website.