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This past June, CYS facilitated a virtual two-day, six-hour Victim Offender Restitution Services (VORS) training for 12 recent CMI graduates. This six-hour Pathway to VORS training is in addition to 30-hour of CMI training that the graduates previously completed. This training prepares volunteer mediators to facilitate restorative justice sessions between youth who have committed certain offenses and the people harmed by those offenses. The training emphasizes accountability,

Recently, a cohort of over twenty community members from in and around Compton completed an intensive five-day (30-hour) Community Mediator Institute (CMI) training. This training equipped participants with practical mediation and conflict-resolution skills grounded in restorative justice principles, empowering them to serve as trusted bridgebuilders within their communities. Throughout the training, participants engaged in interactive learning experiences, role-playing exe

June is a meaningful month for CYS, as it celebrates two causes at the heart of our work: Black and LGBTQIA+ equity. Both Juneteenth and Pride Month honor the ongoing pursuit of justice, inclusion, and liberation—values that guide our mission every day. The work we do would not be possible without the countless brave advocates, organizers, and changemakers who have fought for equity throughout history and continue that fight today. This June, we’re proud to highlight a few of

Mental Health Awareness Week is an important reminder that mental health matters just as much as physical health—especially for young people facing growing academic, social, and emotional pressures. This newsletter is being written to highlight the importance of supporting youth mental health, breaking the stigma around seeking help, and encouraging open conversations that help young people feel seen, supported, and empowered. Why it’s Essential to Care about the Mental Heal

"I was given life without the possibility of parole…I was sentenced to die in prison at the age of 19. It took many, many years for me to come to taking accountability for that…I can’t believe I caused so much pain and anguish to this family." – John Johnson During a recent CYS event, Safety Starts With Us, we were grateful to be joined by Lynn Williams and John Johnson, who participated in a deeply honest and inspiring moderated discussion. During this conversation, Ms. Wi

The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) is a nationally recognized framework designed to transform juvenile justice systems into more equitable, effective, and youth-centered models. This approach focuses on collaboration among key stakeholders including courts, schools, and community organizations to create a coordinated response to youth behavior. Check out the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s new tool, Ten Ways to Transform Youth Justi

Each year, Crime Victims Week serves as a national moment to recognize the experiences of survivors, elevate their voices, and examine how well our systems respond to harm. It is also an opportunity to look forward—asking not only how we react to crime, but how we can better support healing and prevent future harm. Research from the Alliance for Safety + Justice highlights a clear and consistent message from survivors of violence: they want investments that strengthen people

International Women’s Day, celebrated each year on March 8, is a global moment to honor the ongoing fight for women’s equality, liberation, and human rights. It recognizes the progress made through generations of advocacy while also highlighting the work that still remains. The day brings attention to critical issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and the prevention of violence and abuse against women.( 1 ) When looking at the juvenile justice system, it is es

Community health and safety require collaboration among individuals, organizations, and local leaders. By working together schools, local businesses, community organizations, and residents can work together to create safe spaces that are community-led. CYS is a proud to be a part of a network of community-based organizations that work together to empower community-led responses to harm and conflict. Everyday CYS collaborates with community-based organizations to connect our

On March 21st, community members across Compton are invited to come together for an inspiring and engaging event focused on healing, accountability, and collective well-being. Centinela Youth Services, in collaboration with CSI:STOP and partners from the greater Compton community, will host Safety Starts With Us: Transforming Community Approaches to Harm—a free, community-centered gathering designed to strengthen safety and connection through Restorative Justice practices.

Community violence intervention is saving lives across California Across California, communities are seeing something once thought impossible: historic reductions in violence. These aren’t coincidences—they’re the result of intentional, community-led violence intervention work. Here’s what 2025 looked like across the state: Modesto: ZERO homicides Richmond: Five homicides—the lowest number on record Oakland: Lowest number of homicides since the 1960s San Francisco:

Restorative justice represents a profound shift in how justice is understood and practiced. Rather than centering on rule-breaking and punishment, it focuses on harm, relationships, and repair. Justice becomes less about retribution and more about restoring balance, dignity, and connection among harmed parties, responsible parties and the wider community. Responsible parties are not reduced to their crimes, and harmed parties are not defined solely by the crime they endured.

We want to start this year off as strong as we ended it - and we could use your help. Every year in Los Angeles there are youth whose needs are not addressed through suspension, school pushout, and arrest. Every year CYS works collaboratively with schools, law enforcement, families, community members, and youth to prevent suspension, school pushout, and arrest. This important work cannot be done without you – your support can help ensure more youth are treated equitably a

Before you begin, take a moment to slow down and read with curiosity. The stories in this flipbook share real experiences of harm, accountability, and healing through Restorative Justice ( what is Restorative Justice? ). As you turn each page, you’ll encounter different perspectives and paths toward repair. There are no perfect answers here—only opportunities to listen, reflect, and imagine what justice can look like when relationships and community are at the center. Click

As a part of our initiative, Communities in Communication Through Restorative Justice, to make Restorative Justice practices more accessible and easier to understand, we have created a toolkit highlighting the key elements of a focus group. It also includes a video demonstration of a focus group! Check it out. Interested in learning more about focus groups? Know someone that might be interested in focus groups? Check out and share this quick and easy to understand focus

Legislation that strengthens Restorative Justice initiatives helps build safer, more resilient communities by shifting the focus from punishment to healing. These laws empower those harmed to have a voice in resolution while supporting individuals who caused harm in taking meaningful responsibility. Such measures reduce recidivism, address the root causes of conflict, and promote stronger relationships within communities. As a result, Restorative Justice legislation fosters l

As we reflect on 2025, we would like to highlight the impact CYS has had as a leader in Restorative Justice and advocate for community healing. With new partnerships in schools and local agencies, CYS is reaching a wider network of youth and families; fostering safe and connected communities. The amazing work done at CYS comes from the strong team of staff that make it their daily priority to uplift youth, their families and the community. This year, we welcomed some amazi

Restorative Justice Week is an annual event that takes place during the third week of November. It is an opportunity to: Reflect on how restorative justice can be applied to daily challenges Highlight and discuss the most recent achievements of restorative justice Raise awareness on restorative justice, its values and its principles contribute to social change ( 1 ). Centinela Youth Services likes to take this time to celebrate what it prioritizes all year long; which is

Last month, Centinela Youth Services commemorated its 50th anniversary with a moving community celebration. The evening opened with reflections on five decades of restorative work, followed by heartfelt recognition of individuals whose efforts continue to transform lives across the region. Kaci Patterson received the Transformation Award for her unwavering commitment to community-centered reform. Judge Katherine Lucero and Victoria Birch were honored with the Innovator A