Neighborhood Accountability Board

Neighborhood Accountability Boards (NAB’s) are an innovative approach to dealing with minor juvenile offenses without formal prosecution. Restorative Justice is about repairing harm to victims and communities, and making offenders directly accountable to those who were harmed. Additionally, NAB’s allow the offender to understand the actual harm caused by their actions.

In order to address this alarming rate of juvenile offenses, the Leesburg Police Department plans to make use of the Neighborhood Accountability Board to divert youth from prosecution. The NAB accepts referrals of first-time non-violent offenders, and requires them to attend a meeting, where they face their victim. Using the restorative justice concept, the victim, with the assistance of the NAB, determines the type and amount of punishment. This punishment can range from a simple letter of apology, to restitution paid to the victim, to physical labor cleaning the victim’s yard, to painting a home, to washing cars, etc. The NAB monitors compliance with the determined punishment, and if the offender does not complete the program, the case will be referred back for formal prosecution.

This program is designed for the juvenile offender who admits his mistake, and wants to receive his punishment without formal prosecution. This program is not designed to try the facts of a case, and offenders will only be referred who are not contesting the charges.

Restorative justice is a framework for responding to crime, which focuses on the injury (mental or physical) resulting from the crime, and works to repair that injury. Currently, when a crime occurs, the questions asked are: who committed the crime, what laws have been broken, and how will the offender be punished (and the punishment is determined by the judge). Restorative justice views that approach as a problem, and looks at crime through a different lens. When a crime has been committed, restorative justice asks: what is the harm, what can be done to repair the harm, and who is responsible for performing the repairs.

This program is a diversionary program, which will divert youth from being formally charged with a crime, while still holding them accountable for their actions. The victim and suspect in a crime will meet, and with the assistance of the NAB, determine how the suspect will repair the harm that was caused. The NAB is made up of a collaboration of agencies, such as local law enforcement, the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, the State Attorney’s office, the Lake County School Board, MAD-DADS Inc. of Leesburg, the First Baptist Church of Leesburg, and general members of the community. The NAB will moderate the conference between the suspect and the victim and will monitor the decided punishment. Some of the repairs made by the suspect may include yard work at the victim’s home, written letters of apology, community service performed at a location selected by the victim, etc.

The NAB will be maintained and directed by a Program Director, which is Pastor Ken Scrubbs, and other volunteers from the Lake County community.

If you have any further questions, would like to request further information, or have a desire to serve on the panel determining the restorative justice process, contact Pastor Ken Scrubbs by clicking on the link below.

Click here to contact Pastor Scrubbs