RESOLVE TO STOP THE VIOLENCE PROJECT (CA)

Program Description
In 1997, the San Francisco Sheriff's Department developed a restorative justice program called Resolve to Stop the Violence Project (RSVP) in response to an increase in violent crimes in the San Francisco area. This victim-driven violence prevention program is based on the premise that violence is a crime that affects an entire community. The program is built around a restorative justice framework in that it attempts to heal the damage caused by violent crime and to prevent future violent crimes.

RSVP involves three integrated components aimed at victims, the community, and the offender. The first component is the victim restoration program. The program provides support to the victims of violent crime by helping them assess the impact of the crime on their lives, assisting with their living and financial situations, and providing general support. RSVP promotes healing and helps victims to transform themselves into survivors and advocates.

The second component of the program addresses issues of community restoration and educating the public on issues of violence. Under this piece, RSVP conducts workshops and discussions at high schools and other public events to increase awareness about violent crime. An annual theater production brings together offenders and victims.

The reentry element of the program is the offender component in which the actual behaviors and attitudes that lead to violence are addressed. The San Francisco County Jail has 62 beds designated for the RSVP program. Six days a week, for 12 hours a day, inmates take part in an intensive program that involves drama classes, group learning, and group counseling designed to help the participants take a hard look at the violence in their lives. After the men are released, they continue their involvement in the program through a six-month substance abuse program or in the Post Release Education Program. The men are also required to participate in community restoration activities.

Program Goals
The goal of this program is to bring together victims, offenders, and the community in order to create opportunities for restitution and to prevent future violent crimes. RSVP's reentry program aims to change offender attitudes and behaviors as a means of relapse prevention.

Networking, Partnering & Collaboration
RSVP collaborates with community-based agencies for service referrals and local high schools to increase public awareness about violence.

Outcomes
A new study from Harvard University shows that offenders who participate in the RSVP program for more than four months are 80 percent less likely to be re-arrested for a violent crime one year after being released.

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