Cassandra “Kaci” Viado plays a key role in Youth Services’ mission to build resilience and be a catalyst for change as the new Co-Director of the agency’s Restorative Justice Programs.
Promoted from her position as the Restorative Panel and Pre-Charge Programs Coordinator for the last 18 months, Viado is well-versed in working with volunteers, participants, harmed parties, and facilitating restorative justice panels. In that capacity, Viado attended one-on-one meetings for over 100 cases annually, collaborated with local law enforcement, Probation and Parole, and the States Attorney’s Office.
In her new role, Viado manages five restorative justice-based programs for youth and adults in Windham County: Pretrial Services, Court Diversion, Driving with License Suspended, a diversion-based program for substance use and/or mental health needs called Tamarack and the Youth Substance Awareness Safety Program, which emphasizes healthy choices over punishment.
All the programs Viado directs recognize that many people entering the criminal justice system have underlying factors that lead to harm in our communities. “Our programs allow participants to take accountability for their actions, restore their place in the community, and provide healing to both the participant and the harmed party while avoiding a criminal history. These are the pieces I think are too often missing in the traditional criminal justice model,” Viado stated.
Viado explained how each pre-charge or diversion process at Youth Services is crafted for the specific person and their situation. Individuals might participate in a restorative conference with community volunteers or complete community service. Their program coordinator may connect them to resources, therapy or treatment to help them meet any conditions of release. In addition, victims and affected parties have the option of being involved.
As Viado described it, in many programs, volunteer panels meet with participants, guiding the conversation with the questions: What happened? Who was harmed and how? What needs to happen to make things as right as possible? How can we prevent this from happening again?
“Kaci has a well-rounded understanding of the criminal justice system and working in community- based programs like ours, which focus on repairing harm caused by crime and dealing with the risks and needs of the person who commits crimes,” stated Russell Bradbury-Carlin, Youth Services Executive Director.
“Often by addressing issues such as poverty, housing, education, employment, addiction, mental illness and insurance coverage, we can begin to build real solutions,” explained Bradbury-Carlin. “Investing in community-based accountability programs has proven to save taxpayer money and reduce the likelihood of another crime,” he attested.
Prior to joining Youth Services, Viado was a Probation Officer for Cobb County, Georgia where she supervised caseloads of 200+ misdemeanor offenders, all while helping to facilitate rehabilitation. Leading up to that position she provided administration support for the misdemeanor probation staff and was also a Legal Assistant at a family law firm and a case manager for youth in human services agencies.
“I am thrilled for Kaci to be joining me as co-director of our restorative justice team,” said Mel Motel, the other Restorative Justice Co-Director at Youth Services. “Kaci brings to this role a commitment to restorative justice, strong relationships with community partners, and a deep respect for the individuals who participate in our programs. Kaci’s leadership will undoubtedly make a tremendous impact on our agency and the broader community.”
For more information on Youth Services’ Restorative Justice programs or to support these efforts as a volunteer or with a donation, visit youthservicesinc.org or call Kaci Viado at (802) 257-0361. x170.
