Pilot program in Chittenden Co. aims to stop criminal behavior by helping repeat offenders [Video]

To hundreds of people in Chittenden County, Jess Kirby is their biggest cheerleader.”(This) is for me exactly where I want to be, what I want to be doing and how I want to spend my time,” Jess Kirby, sitting in the bright conference room at Vermonters for Criminal Justice Reform, or VCJR, in downtown Burlington, said. Kirby is the Director of Client Services at VCJR, which is a walk-in recovery center for justice-involved people who have substance use and mental health disorders.At VCJR, people can grab a snack, talk about whatever’s on their mind, and, of course, get help for substance use disorder apply for jobs and for housing.Recently, VCJR has introduced a new program that aims to stop persistent criminal behavior from happening.”We specialize in working with some people that are really disconnected and really challenging to engage and people who are often having a high impact on the …