Reset Overview
Reset Jefferson County diverts people out of jails and prisons with a proportionate, effective, and meaningful response to low-level offending. Through Reset, participants avoid a criminal record and the court process by completing community-based program requirements. Our approach holds people accountable for their actions, strengthens public trust in the justice system, and creates opportunities for young, low-level offenders to move forward without the lifetime impediment of a felony conviction.
Why We Need It
Alabama prisons disproportionately harm Black Alabamians housed in deplorable conditions. Incarceration often begins with low-level offenses. Existing diversion programs are unduly burdensome for defendants–too costly and lengthy. Failure to complete programs results in a felony record, jail time, and can lead to job loss and education disruption – systemic responses unequal to the crime. Reset participants are held accountable without the life-altering punishment of a felony conviction and the financial burden of court or program costs. The program reduces the likelihood of future convictions and resolves cases faster, with less costs. Reset is meaningful justice reform for disproportionately impacted people of color.
How It Works
In Jefferson County, more than 500 people aged 18-24 are arrested each year for low-level felonies, such as drug possession and forgery. In 2019, 75% of people arrested were Black residents, a significantly disproportionate number. Reset serves people in this cohort with first-time arrests who accept responsibility for their actions, and rather than attending court, choose to engage in restorative justice programming with Reset staff and a community provider. Participants are treated with dignity, and community partners address underlying issues that led to dangerous behavior. Participants reflect on their accountability and discuss how to avoid future arrests. Reset staff also refer participants to community organizations to help address barriers such as employment and housing.
When participants complete programming the District Attorney’s Office will decline to prosecute them, and they won’t have to appear in court. Participants who do not complete programming are sent back to the court system.
Models of Success
Reset Jefferson County follows the evidence-based model of the Center for Court Innovation’s (CCI) successful Project Reset program in New York. CCI’s five-year proven track record found that participants were significantly less likely than defendants in a comparison group to be convicted of a new crime within one year. The study also documented improved case processing times, case outcomes, and positive perceptions of the program. More than 95 percent of participants said they had made the right decision by entering the program and that they would recommend Project Reset to someone in a similar situation. (Source: Project Reset: An Evaluation of Pre- Arraignment Diversion Program in New York City.)
More information on New York’s Project Reset:
Progress
Enrollment in Reset began in March 2022 upon establishing the case flow for participants in conjunction with the Jefferson County Public Defender’s Office, the University of Alabama at Birmingham Community Justice Programs, and the 10th Judicial Circuit Court of Alabama. Thus far, seven participants have had their felony and/or misdemeanor cases permanently dismissed by completing Reset. Numerous participants are actively enrolled in the program and are working towards completion. Enrollment in Reset is ongoing.
Implementation involves law enforcement, victims, and participants. Reset programming is currently provided by Salaam Green, Executive Director of the Literary Healing Arts. For questions regarding Reset, please contact Natalie Campbell, Reset Coordinator, at reset@jccal.org or by phone at (205) 325-5573.
Reset Program Updates:
Reset Program Report March 2024
Reset Program Report May 2023
Reset Program Report July 2022
Reset Program Report October 2022
