State support encourages expansion of local restorative justice program
The aim of restorative justice work is to repair relationships and restore trust in communities impacted by crime. The goal is to foster healing, especially in families, and assist with accountability and reintegration of those who have committed a crime. Here on the North Shore, that work is being championed by Cook County MN Restorative Justice. Program Director Inger Andress told WTIP that the organization has some big changes in store.
Cook County MN Restorative was started in 2018, and has processed about 50 cases since then. Until now, it has operated as a program within the Vital North Foundation.
The organization is in the process of becoming an independent non-profit by the end of the year. That shift will come with a name change. Andress explained that once they are established as a non-profit, they will use the name North Shore Restorative Practices.
Along with a name change, the scope of the work that the organization is taking on will also change. Andress said the group has been approached by Lake County to provide restorative justice programing to residents there. As their service area expands, they plan to hire two new staff members.
Andress said that both new roles are case coordinator positions, and one will focus on Cook County while the other manages cases coming out of Lake county. She added that Cook MN Restorative Justice has already been providing some services in Lake County through volunteers.
Another goal Andress mentioned was expanding who they are able to serve, not just based on geography, but based on case status. At this time, the organization is focussed on those who are already in the legal system following a crime. She said they hope be be able to start accepting “self-referrals” by individuals who are seeking help and services before a situation has escalated to the point that law enforcement is involved.
Support for the growth of restorative justice programs has recently come from the state level and the Justice Department. The Office of Restorative Practices (ORP) was recently established under the Department of Children, Youth, and Families(DCYF).
DCYF is offering grant funding to not only help programs get started, but also to sustain those programs across the state. During the 2024-2025 fiscal year, the state awarded $8 million in grants to 30 entities across the state, including counties, regional organizations, schools, and non-profits. The Vital North Foundation is a current grant recipient.
Andress has welcomed the interest in restorative justice from the state. “It’s a very new grassroots type of thing that’s going on in our state, which is exciting,” she said.
Inger Andress spoke to Tracy Benson live on WTIP’s North Shore Morning. Audio of that conversation is below.
Kirsten Wisniewski March 12, 2026
