📰BIDDEFORD | Restorative Justice Project Maine Opens Biddeford Office

2 days ago
3 min read

By Emily Parker, Biddeford Restorative Justice Project

"... program will support youth restorative justice services in York and Cumberland counties."

August 28, 2026, Restorative Justice Project Maine announces the opening of a new office location in Biddeford, Maine. Located at 275 Main Street, the Biddeford office will support youth restorative justice services in York and Cumberland counties.

It has been one year since Restorative Justice Project Maine grew its Youth Harm Repair service area from four counties to ten, expanding into Southern Maine. In this first year serving York and Cumberland, the Southern counties represented 30% of referrals for youth harm repair services. In total, Restorative Justice Project Maine received 96 referrals for youth harm repair from July 2025 to June 2026, compared to 28 total referrals the year prior. Strong community engagement and system partnership in Saco/Biddeford motivated the move to Biddeford.

Restorative Justice Project Maine’s Youth Harm Repair program is supported by a contract with the Maine Department of Corrections, Division of Juvenile Services, and the support of donors and volunteers.

The Youth Harm Repair program offers a high-accountability, high-support alternative to conventional legal processes. Restorative justice is a healing-centered approach to justice that focuses on repairing harm. Through facilitated dialogues, harm repair agreements, and mentorship, the program empowers youth to reflect, take accountability, and make amends.

Restorative justice programs are associated with greater satisfaction for the party who experienced harm, better youth outcomes, and reduced recidivism (Wilson et al., 2017; Sherman et al., 2015). Anonymous participant surveys administered by Restorative Justice Project Maine similarly show positive outcomes. From July 2025 to June 2026:

94% of persons harmed agreed or strongly agreed with the statement “I am satisfied with today’s meeting.”
94% of persons harmed agreed or strongly agreed “the people who were harmed felt their needs were recognized/honored at today’s meeting.”
93% of youth reported that, as a result of the harm repair process, “I better understand the harm that I caused to the people who were harmed, my family, and my community.”
81% of youth reported that, as a result of the harm repair process, “I am more confident about my future.”
92% of all participants agreed or strongly agreed with the statement “I would recommend the restorative justice process to others in a similar situation.”

“With offices in Belfast, Damariscotta, and Lewiston, opening an office in Biddeford is an important step in our efforts to expand to ten Maine counties,” says Executive Director Kathy Durgin-Leighton. “We are delighted to have a dedicated office in Biddeford so that we can better serve our youth and families. We thank the McArthur Library for allowing us to use their space for the last six months. We look forward to using the space for harm repair circles and community building events.”

“Working as a Restorative justice manager in York County, and especially Biddeford, has been incredibly rewarding,” comments Amanda Brown, Restorative Justice Manager serving Southern Maine. “Biddeford is a resilient mill town with beautiful rivers, beaches, and hiking trails. The people are hardworking and community focused. Biddeford organizations have embraced RJP Maine and our work. We hope our presence can aid and contribute to what is already being done.”

Restorative Justice Project Maine is seeking volunteers in Biddeford and across Southern Maine. To learn more, visit: https://rjpmaine.org/get-involved/volunteer-roles/

To make a referral for youth harm repair, visit: https://rjpmaine.org/make-a-referral/

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Restorative Justice Project Maine (RJP Maine) promotes a justice that is community-based, repairs harm, and creates safety and wellbeing for all.

RJP Maine facilitates Youth Harm Repair in Androscoggin, Cumberland, Franklin, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Sagadahoc, Waldo, and York counties. Additionally, RJP Maine supports returning citizens, in partnership with the Maine Coastal Regional Reentry Center, and offers training on restorative practices to individuals, schools, and institutions.

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