The Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services was chosen by the National Center for Victims of Crime in 2004, along with two other pilot sites in Redlands, California and Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to put Parallel Justice principles into practice.

This concept originated with Susan Herman, Former Executive Director of the National Center for Victims of Crime and challenges our current need to address the short and long-term needs of victims regardless of whether the offender is caught or prosecuted. In keeping with Susan’s vision, the project works to; “Instead of asking victims to seek justice solely through the criminal justice process, ask[ing] victims to define the problems they face—and then, do[ing their] best to address them.”

The Center began working in Vermont with top-level representatives from both the private and public sectors to create a vision and define the implementation of the Parallel Justice in Burlington. At that time, partners began exploring:

1. Avenues for improving governmental services and entitlements
2. A way to mobilize the community through public education
3. To create a process for victims to speak about the impact of crime and address systemic barriers they face and
4. To develop coordinated services for victims of crime in Burlington, Vermont. 

In July of 2006, Parallel Justice for Victims of Crime in Burlington was launched as the national demonstration project embodying this new concept of victim support.  It was created through the collaborative efforts of the Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services, the Burlington Community Justice Center, and the Burlington Police Department. 

Today, two Parallel Justice Specialists, one placed at the Community Justice Center and one at the Burlington Police Department along with volunteers from the community and inters from St. Michael's Collegeand the University of Vermont, connect with victims of crime through reports to the police, referrals from victim service agencies, community businesses or crime victims themselves.

Over the past four years the project has provided direct assistance to over 1,000 people with a variety of needs, from repairing locks and broken windows to addressing medical, dental and mental health care.  The project has enrolled more than 50 local businesses to assist with supporting victims of crime through donations, discounts, and flexible billing.  With these exciting successes, Parallel Justice is now an established response to victims after crime.

Susan Herman, now an Associate Professor at PACE University, remains a partner and consultant for the Vermont demonstration site. Her book Parallel Justice for Victims of Crime was published in January, 2010 and is available through Amazon.com.

2001 – Susan Herman, former Director of the National Center for Victims of Crime, was invited by Sherry Burnette, former Director of Victim Services at the Vt. Department of Corrections, to present "Parallel Justice: A New Vision of Justice for Crime Victims" at Ira Allen Chapel in Burlington, Vermont

2002 – Susan Herman found some funding through the JHET Foundation to develop three test sites for Parallel Justice. Sherry Burnette approached the Vt. Center for Crime Victim Services to apply as the lead in piloting a site in Vermont. Burlington Vermont was chosen.

2003 – Sharon Davis met with Burlington Community Justice Center and Burlington Police Department and formed the Parallel Justice partnership.

Late 2003 – The Partnership met with Burlington based stakeholders, especially victim advocates from each advocacy organization, to determine who was not being served by programs currently:  Victims who don’t report and Victims of Low level crimes were not being served in Burlington—This conclusion was supported by National Statistics and a statewide survey.

Late 2003- 2004 – Parallel Justice Partnership attended a series of Cluster Meetings with two other sites in Washington, DC to:

• Study guidelines of Parallel Justice and connecting those to community assessments & statistics
• Solidifying partnerships and working groups
• Fundraising Strategies
• Developing Evaluation methods

2004 – JHET foundation changed funding priorities, which excluded Victim Support Programs

Early 2005 – Working with a consultant the Vermont team created a Sample grant application to be submitted in the event that funds became available.

2005 – Partners looked for funding, gauged and encouraged community interest, started car window replacement initiative, located potential start-up funds .

Early 2006 – Start up funds from 2 major grants (BJA and HOPE II) awarded.

July 1, 2006 – Parallel Justice Specialist began work at BCJC

October 2006 – Commissioners recruited.

Nov. 2006 – Parallel Justice Specialist began work at BPD

Dec. 2006 – Resolution passed to create commission, commissioners appointed by Mayor and Governor

Jan. 2006 – Commissioner’s Orientation (after which the Commission began meeting quarterly)

2008 – BJA grant ended, VOCA funding for project

2009 – Evaluation and preparation for program replication