Inside a new space completely designed for restorative justice, no detail is too small. Even the chairs matter. “The contrast of furniture in incarceration settings is that it’s bolted down. The environment itself speaks to we don’t trust you,” said Garrett Jacobs, director of research and evaluation for Designing Justice + Designing Spaces, the architecture firm...
Every inch of San Francisco’s first restorative justice center is designed for healing — from the cozy reading nooks and colorful communal spaces to the comfy lounge-style chairs and art displays telling stories of survival. Nadia Lopez Aug 4, 2025 – News...Read More →
“An Oakland nonprofit that has long worked in county jails now has a space of its own in San Francisco. Community Works West, a restorative-justice organization that assists incarcerated children and adults, founded in 1997, opened its “Restorative Hub” at 986 Mission St. in December. The 6,000-square-foot SoMa facility is the organization’s first in The City, providing...
AB 2833 – Restorative Justice Integrity Act Assemblymember McKinnor, Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Restorative Justice, today announced the introduction of AB 2833, The Restorative Justice Integrity Act, which will safeguard the integrity of Restorative Justice processes statewide. Read further
Coalition Celebrates Restorative Justice Notification Bill Signed into Law Governor Newsom signs new law notifying survivors of crime their right to access Restorative Justice as an alternative to the criminal justice system. SACRAMENTO, CA: Today, Governor Newsom signed AB 60 into law, giving victims and survivors of harm the right to be notified about the...
Returning home from being incarcerated can feel a lot like starting from ground zero, but that doesn’t have to be the case. On April 16, our Women Rising program hosted annual gratitude event, where we launched a Community Closet open for women returning home to access free necessities every Thursday and Friday. Thank you to...
Summer is just around the corner, which means our youth-led program, Project WHAT! (PW), is full swing into spring enrollment. Over the summer, PW hires and pays children of incarcerated parents, equipping them with invaluable professional skills. If you or anyone you know connects with young people ages 12 – 17, please have them complete...
On June 25th, Rising Voices will be performed with the Formerly Incarcerated People’s Performance Project at PianoFight Theater in Oakland. The theme of Rising Voices’ set is “What You Don’t See When You Look at Me”, a theme the women selected because it speaks to the pre-judgements, bias and misconceptions people hold about individuals who...
