Forging a New Path to Justice in Chicago’s Lawndale Community

At the time “Walter” was charged with possession of a controlled substance–a Class 4 felony in Illinois carrying a minimum penalty of one year of prison time—he actually had options. He could go down the typical path through the Illinois criminal justice system or walk down a new path through the nation’s first Restorative Justice Community Court (RJCC), based in Chicago.

If determined guilty, the first path leads to a relatively short prison sentence with lasting repercussions.