Community Restorative Justice Center Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CRJC is committed to providing a safe environment for neighbors and parties to resolve conflict in our communities, to restore relationships and to take responsibility to repair harm caused. We promote the principles of victim focused restorative justice in Caledonia and southern Essex counties in Vermont.
- Income
- $912,935
- Spending
- $872,539
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 2.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 86%
- Employees
- 13
- Volunteers
- 84
- Highest pay
- $72,380, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 19% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
5 of 250 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (4)
- $229,333 spent. DOC - Reparative and Offender Reentry accounts for 36% of total program services. The Reparative Program at the Community Restorative Justice Center (CRJC) works with people referred to attend a reparative process that addresses taking responsibility for their crime(s), making amends to victims and affected parties, making amends to the community, and working on a plan to avoid future. Roughly 35 volunteers make up restorative panels to work with offenders on these goals. A program coordinator and a victim liaison make up the staff that run this program. The Offender Reentry Program at the CRJC coordinates "Cirlcles of Support and Accountability" (CoSA). The CoSA participants are supervisees reentering the community after incarceration. They meet once a week for a year with their CoSA as a means of better reintegrating into the community. Roughly 35 volunteers give time to this program as well. A Reentry Coordinator runs this program. The Coordinator also provides navigation services for other people under supervision that helps with needed services in the community.
- $195,595 spent. Court Diversion accounts for 31% of total program services. Court Diversion is a restorative alternative to the court process. The state's attorney may offer Diversion to adults or youth who are charged with committing a crime (or youth charged with being delinquent). After successful completion of the program, the original charge is dismissed. Also under Diversion is the civil and criminal DLS (Drivingwith License Suspended) Program. This program helps people regain their Vermont driver's license while they off their fines and fees. Participants work with Diversion staff to develop a contract and payment plan. After the Vermont Judicial Bureau approves the contract - and other Department of Motor Vehicles requirements are met, the person's driver's license is reinstated. Also under Diversion is the Youth Substance Safety Awareness Program YSASP). This Program holds young people accountable for breaking underage drinking laws, educates them about the consequences and risks of alcohol, and identifies youth with potential substance abuse problems so they may receive treatment. The program is a voluntary alternative to a $300 fine and 90-day driver's license suspension. Pre-Trial services is a program that works with Responsible Parties to assist them through the court process offering brief mental health and substance misuse screenings. Tamarack, a more personalized case management program, is offered to responsible parties with a longer criminal record, or who have experienced substance misuse or continued mental health struggles.
- $223,569 spent. Transitional Housing accounts for 24% of total program services. The State recognizes the need to develop community partnerships for individuals leaving the correctional facilities to successfully transition back to the community. This program is meant to support the provision of transitional housing, rental assistance, housing search and retention, and other supportive services for individuals released to the community from correctional facilities. Two full-time staff manage four houses/apartments in two towns, St. Johnsbury and Lyndonville. There are 11 available beds total, eight for men and three for women.
- $55,069 spent. 2.2% ($14,510) of program services is the Legal Program (Free Legal Clinic and Information and referral) partially funded by the Vermont Bar Association. 1.4% of program services ($8,351) of program service is the Opioid Remediation Funds Grant. These funds pay for opioid remediation education and a rural transportation grant providing transportation to treatment services and other vital rural transportation needs. 4% of program services ($24,137) were made up of the now- completed Vermont Dept. of Health Grant that provided Language Access education to Community Justice Centers in Vermont. 0.3% of expenses ($2000) were accounted for in a Foodbank Grant that provided food cards at local grocery stores for unhoused people. The remaining 1.1% of program services ($6,341) goes to other smaller programs like the Parking Ticket Appeal Board and the community fridge that supplies free food to people who are homeless or unable to afford food.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 2012.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
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