Peoria Peacekeepers
Welcome to Peoria Peacekeepers
The Peoria Peacekeepers Network is a referral program established by the Peoria Friendship House that focuses on using a restorative justice approach to provide juvenile offenders who have admitted to committing certain eligible offenses, misdemeanors, or felony. Juvenile offenders are given the opportunity to make restitution, connect with the community, and receive needed services and support.
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Peoria Friendship House works in tandem with various organizations to provide aid to juvenile offenders via referral sources such as the Peoria Police Department Station Adjustments, Peoria Public Schools discipline referrals, and Peoria County Probation Informal Supervision.
Peace Conference Process
Each youth will be given a trauma/victimization/risk screen to identify any needs and level of risk.
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Universal Screen - Children’s Resource, Line/other trauma screen in order to measure impact.
YASI Screen - For violence cases that would be eligible for informal supervision.
Peacekeepers Panel Members
Marcellus Sommerville
President/CEO
Cortney Foster
Chief Operating Officer
Chip Bates
Director of Operations
Taya Bates
Peoria Peacekeepers Assistant
The Balanced and Restorative Justice Approach (BARJ) refers to a community-centered, alternative approach or response to juvenile delinquency. It is an alternative response that differs from the traditional government justice process and measures. A powerful pillar in this process is the recognition of need that both victims and offenders have a voice in this process, and it is strongly encouraged for the victim (long silenced in traditional justice settings) to share the personal impact of the crime with the offending party.
This approach focuses on holding offenders accountable by humanizing the victim (ex: by describing the harm caused) and discussing how the community (they share) was impacted. The juvenile should remain in the community while also providing reparations to victims and/or communities.
It serves to lessen the marginalization and ostracization (stigma) the juvenile experiences (often creates divides). This rehabilitative approach uses a positive reintegrative shaming (all affected by the harm seek a remedy more applicable to unaccepted acts).