Yolo DA needs Neighborhood Court volunteers
The Yolo County District Attorney’s Neighborhood Court Program is seeking volunteer panelists. Trainings are set to take place virtually in January. NHC, which has been in operation since June of 2013, is an innovative restorative justice diversionary program within the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office. NHC also includes the Steps to Success program, which is geared towards offenders experiencing challenges due to mental health and addiction issues. NHC conferences are staffed by local volunteers who facilitate and hear criminal cases to develop agreements with the offenders aimed at providing individualized outcomes, using the principles of restorative justice. This process provides a voice for members of the community, and those affected by crimes, to express how they have been harmed and what they need in order to make things right. NHC volunteers receive training in the basic principles of restorative justice and the three- step Neighborhood Court conference process. The NHC panelist training course is a prerequisite for service in any of the DA’s restorative justice programs. Since the training is being done virtually, it will be broken up in to three sessions. Upcoming Volunteer Panelist Training Dates: Session one: Thursday, Jan. 14, 3 to 7 p. m.; Session two: Saturday, Jan. 16, 9 a. m. to 1 p. m.; and Session three: Thursday, Jan. 21, 3 to 7 p. m. Potential panelists must attend all three sessions. Interested local community members are encouraged to apply online at www. yoloda. org/ nc. For more information, please email maria. olmedo@ yolocounty. org.
County office open by appointment only
Due to the State’s Regional Stay Home order, the Yolo County Assessor, Clerk- Recorder and Elections offices will be open to the public by appointment only until further notice. Appointments will be available from 9: 00 a. m. to 3: 00 p. m., Monday through Friday. As a precautionary measure to help protect staff and the community from the spread of COVID- 19, ACE offices will not be able to provide services for walk- in customers. Please utilize the following link to schedule an appointment for any ACE office: https:// yolocountyace. as. me/.