A Different Path Forward: How Operation Fresh Start and Dane County Community Restorative Court Are Creating Second Chances
- 1 minute ago
- 5 min read
At Operation Fresh Start (OFS), we often say that every young person is an asset in our community. Through our partnership with Dane County Community Restorative Court (CRC), that belief becomes real—meeting young people at a critical moment and offering a path rooted in accountability, support, and community.
A system built on repair, not punishment
Community Restorative Court began in 2013 as a response to clear disparities in the criminal justice system, particularly for Black and Brown individuals. Instead of defaulting to punishment, CRC offers a voluntary diversion program focused on understanding harm and repairing it.
Participants, typically aged 17-25, are referred by law enforcement or the district attorney’s office for cases like retail theft, disorderly conduct, or minor battery. From there, the process looks very different from what happens in a courtroom.
Each participant meets with a program leader, then participates in a “circle” alongside trained community volunteers known as peacemakers.
Together, they answer four core questions:
What happened?
Who was responsible?
What harm was caused?
How can that harm be repaired?
The outcome is a repair harm agreement—a set of meaningful, individualized steps the participant agrees to complete. CRC reports an 97% completion rate, a strong indicator that this approach works.
But the impact goes deeper than completion.
“This gives young people a voice,” CRC Program Leader Donnetta Foxx said. “In traditional systems, it’s just ‘guilty or not’ and then punishment. Here, they get to explain what happened, reflect, and figure out how to move forward.”
Where OFS fits in
Through this partnership, CRC doesn’t just identify harm; it connects young people to opportunities.
When a participant could benefit from additional support, such as education, job training, transportation, or stability, CRC brings OFS into the circle early. That often means inviting OFS staff directly into the conversation.
It’s a soft handoff, and it matters.
“When we just give someone a phone number and say, ‘go call,’ it usually doesn’t happen,” Foxx said. “But when we introduce them in the room, build that relationship right away—that’s when it sticks.”
At OFS, young people can:
Earn their high school diploma, GED, or HSED
Gain professional career skills and pre-apprenticeships
Access free driver’s education, career coaching, and ongoing holistic support
However, most importantly, they find a place where they feel seen and heard.
The power of connection: What it means to be a peacemaker
For OFS Deputy Director of Empowerment Programs and Strategic Initiatives, Jasmine Banks, serving as a peacemaker doesn’t feel like additional work.
“I absolutely love being a peacemaker,” Banks said. “I think everybody in this community should be a peacemaker. Being part of a restorative process is what community should look like.”
When a circle is scheduled, Banks is invited by CRC leaders to participate. She can say yes or no, depending on her schedule. But whenever she can, she says yes—because she’s seen what happens when young people are met with humanity instead of judgment.
Many circles happen at Operation Fresh Start, and that setting matters. Banks often greets participants at the door herself.
“These young people are walking into what they think is part of the justice system. They’re nervous. They don’t know what to expect. They’re meeting strangers,” she said. “Being able to welcome them into Fresh Start changes everything.”
Banks added that young people often come in guarded with their hood up and arms crossed, but by the end, they’re opening up, asking questions, and even smiling.
Inside the Circle
Inside the room, everyone sits in a circle. Program leaders guide the process, but the heart of it is dialogue. Peacemakers do not see police reports. Instead, the young person tells their story in their own words. From there, the conversation begins—not to interrogate, but to understand.
“A lot of what goes into the circle is love,” Banks said. “And the understanding that we’ve all made mistakes. We are not our worst mistake.”
Her favorite moments come when defenses drop, and the layers begin to peel back.
“That’s when young people start to understand,” she said. “Yes, you made a mistake, but you’re still a human being. There are people here to support you. This is what community looks like.”
That community shows up most clearly during the repair-harm discussion. Instead of defaulting to punishment, the circle looks for ways to repair harm that are meaningful and forward-looking.
Banks recalled one participant, a university student with artistic talent, who had been caught stealing. Rather than assigning a purely punitive consequence, the conversation shifted to connection.
“Let’s connect you with an artist in the community,” Banks said. “Let’s see if there are projects you can work on. That’s repairing harm while helping someone move toward their strengths.”
The circle also pushes participants to think beyond their immediate actions and consider the ripple effects on others.
“Sometimes people say, ‘It’s a big corporation, who’s it hurting?’” Banks said. “But it might be the next person who looks like you and gets followed in that store. It might be the officer responding to a call without knowing what they’re walking into. The impact spreads.”
For Banks, the most powerful shift happens when young people realize they’re not alone.
“They settle in and understand it’s a village coming to meet them,” she said. “Not a courtroom where you’re figuring it out on your own, which is incredibly intimidating. It’s people sitting with you, helping you understand the harm, and helping you move forward.”
“The whole process,” she added, “is beautiful.”
More than accountability
CRC circles are not about avoiding consequences. They are about understanding impact and building something better.
Participants are expected to take responsibility. But they are also met with empathy and given tools to move forward.
“We’re not saying what happened is okay,” Foxx said. “We’re saying you’re more than your worst mistake, and we’re here to help you do better.”
That mindset aligns closely with OFS.
Both organizations operate with:
High expectations
Strong support
A belief in growth and second chances
A community effort
At its core, this partnership reflects what’s possible when a community shows up differently.
Instead of isolation, there’s connection.
Instead of punishment alone, there’s restoration.
Instead of barriers, there are pathways.
CRC has served over 1,000 participants since its founding, and the work continues to grow. Together with OFS, more young people are finding stability, direction, and a renewed sense of possibility. According to Foxx, Dane County Community Restorative Court is the only restorative justice program in Wisconsin that uses peacemakers and community members to repair harm.
Get involved
Dane County Community Restorative Court is actively seeking community members to serve as peacemakers.
Upcoming training sessions:
Monday, May 4 | 12:30–4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 6 | 12:30–4:30 p.m.
Monday, May 11 | 12:30–4:30 p.m.
To learn more and become a peacemaker, visit the Dane County CRC website.
Peacemakers play a critical role, listening, supporting, and helping guide young people through meaningful change. If you believe in second chances and stronger communities, this is a powerful way to be part of the work.
When we invest in young people, not just hold them accountable but help them move forward, we strengthen the entire community.