Skip to main content

Center for Justice Reform

Layout Builder


The Center for Justice Reform at Vermont Law and Graduate School is a statewide, regional, national, and international educational and training location for justice reform efforts including restorative justice.

The center trains law and graduate students, community members, criminal justice professionals, educators, social service providers, and policy makers in the value of restorative and innovative criminal justice programs.

The current criminal justice system is financially and ethically untenable. Plagued by the unsustainable cost of incarceration, high recidivism rates, the devastating impact on children of incarcerating parents, the burden and collateral consequences of a criminal conviction, a “school to prison” pipeline borne out of excessively harsh academic disciplinary measures, and racial, economic, and geographic inequalities, our communities need alternatives to the traditional criminal justice model.

The Center for Justice Reform is uniquely positioned to address deficiencies in our justice systems and to train the next generation of justice leaders. With residential and online educational programs including a Master of Arts in Restorative Justice (MARJ), joint JD/Master of Arts in Restorative Justice, Professional Certificate in Restorative Justice, and experiential learning opportunities, students gain the skills to become agents for change within the justice system.

Logo of the Vermont Law School Center for Justice Reform
The Center for Justice Reform Mission
Who we are and what we do at the Center for Justice Reform  
Photograph of the Staff of the Center for Justice Reform
Staff and Faculty of the Center for Justice Reform
Meet the restorative justice program staff and faculty  
Photograph of Law Students discussing outside in the Fall Foliage.
Programs at the Center for Justice Reform
Learn with us through the masters of restorative justice, professional certificate, or joint degree program options  
Original watercolor art of a discussion of Restorative Justice
Career Paths in Justice Reform
Discover the options for restorative justice career paths and stories from RJ alumni  
Photograph of Law Students in a classroom
News and Events at the Center for Justice Reform
Stay involved in upcoming events, trainings, and news stories from the Center for Justice Reform  
Logo of the VLS National Center on Restorative Justice
National Center on Restorative Justice
Learn about the work happening with the National Center on Restorative Justice; a grant funded partnership between VLS, University of Vermont, and University of San Diego  

Learn more about upcoming CJR events

NCORJ SCHOLARSHIP

Now accepting applications.

The National Center on Restorative Justice is funding five full tuition awards, open to new PCRJ program applicants. Scholarship recipients are responsible for the cost of fees and books.

Learn More →