Yes! Magazine, in collaboration with the California Health Report, has published a great piece about the CHAT Project for Community Healing and Transformation. The CHAT Project provides RJ services for people involved in Domestic Violence (DV) incidents and circumstances in Contra Costa County here in the Bay Area. The piece follows the work of CHAT through one of their processes, demonstrating the complexity of this work, and the ways in which the folks at CHAT are oriented around principles of safety and care for the needs of all involved.
Many have argued that domestic violence and inter-personal violence involve too many volatile power dynamics for a Restorative Justice approach. That’s why the people who developed and run the CHAT Project put their guiding principles first as they decide what cases to take, and how to proceed. These reports from their first three years outline their principles in detail and how the folks at CHAT make decisions based on them. The process involves hours of preparation for all involved, before people are brought together. And safety is always the first consideration when bringing people together. Since domestic violence is not usually limited to two people, but can involve families and communities, family members including children may be brought into the process at different points to lend their perspective and talk about their needs. Circles can take all day, involving food and community building.
From the Yes! Article:
“We have many ways to measure success,” said Robayo Durán, “and our priority, most of all, is safety.” Success looks different for all their participants; for some, taking the first step to ask for help is a success in itself. Not everyone who contacts them is ready for a dialogue with their partners … but there are still services The CHAT Project can offer them. “Having a circle is not always the goal, but to be able to provide the support they need to make a change in their life,” Escobedo said.
Two other points about CHAT and DV:
As the featured story shows, even domestic violence situations can be complex–there’s not always a clear “villain” in the story, and all involved can be suffering and have serious needs. Taking time to peel back the layers of the story of the relationship can reveal all the dynamics and challenges and allow those involved to better understand themselves and each other. Quoting the Yes! Piece:
“What is interesting is that systems tend to label people in a certain way,” Robayo Durán said. But at The CHAT Project, said Robayo Durán, “We don’t label people ‘the survivor’ [or] ‘the person causing harm’ right away. We try to explore with people ‘What is your role, what was the situation, what was your past life, how did you come to this situation?’”
The CHAT Project is dedicated to providing what they call “Non-Law enforcement Restorative Justice,” meaning that they don’t work with police or DAs to access DV cases. Rather, they work with communities to get the word out, and to provide services for those who choose not to work with the criminal legal system for various reasons.
To find your nearest family justice center, visit the Family Justice Center Alliance.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, you can also contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for support and referrals, or text “START” to 88788. Information on local domestic violence programs can be found using this online tool.
For Native Americans and Alaska Natives, the StrongHearts Native Helpline at 1-844-7NATIVE (762-8483) provides 24/7 confidential and culturally appropriate support and advocacy for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. A chat option is available through their website.