Our Mission

Collective Justice grew out of many conversations with survivors, community members, and incarcerated people who have been directly impacted by multiple forms of violence. We all came together to express the need for spaces and practices that focus on healing and not further harming and isolating each other. Community activists and organizers met with the Black Prisoners Caucus and Concerned Lifers Organization at Monroe Correctional Complex to discuss Restorative Justice programming. Many members expressed the desire for any opportunity to express remorse and make amends for the harms they caused and saw learning Restorative Justice practices as a way to continue their accountability and healing journeys.

Martina Kartman and Katherine Beckett visited the Bay Area to learn from the West Coast Poverty Center Restorative Justice practitioners, from Insight Prison Project, and individuals who had engaged in Restorative Justice Programs or direct dialogues (Victim Offender Dialogues) to hear about their experiences and methods. They expanded their knowledge on various restorative justice principles and models across the nation. Martina and Katherine shared their knowledge and experiences at Monroe with BPC and CLO. Those discussions became planning meetings and how to bring an RJ program to the prison. After tedious research and months of meetings and writing they were given approval to start the HEAL program at Monroe Correctional Complex at Washington State Reformatory.

A year later, Healing Education for Accountability and Liberation launched at Washington State Reformatory with three circles (45 participants total), and six facilitators. Healing Education for Accountability and Liberation (HEAL) is the first of its kind in Washington State. The program offers healing and accountability circles for incarcerated men and trans women. Drawing on restorative justice practices and transformative justice principles.

Shortly after, the Survivor Advisory Board launched with the founding circle of 12 participants in the community. These are circles of healing and support for individuals who have been impacted by violence. We build awareness and skills around coping with triggers, self and community-care, and resilience. There are opportunities for those that choose to engage in a facilitated conversation in which survivors are invited to share their stories with the incarcerated participants of our prison-based program. We center people of color and allies of all gender identities who have survived many forms of violence including gender-based violence, child sexual abuse, gun violence, homicide, and police violence.

Our purpose is to support communities most impacted by interpersonal and state violence to build movements for safety and justice rooted in racial justice and collective liberation.