Restorative Justice Movement
RJM’s mission is to promote healing, accountability, and reconciliation in our communities by providing a holistic and transformative approach to addressing internal and external harm and conflict. RJM’s vision is a liberated world of diverse individuals in an inclusive and just society.
THE MOVEMENT
Restorative Justice Movement (RJM) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization established in 2014, dedicated to advancing healing, accountability, and community reconciliation. Grounded in Indigenous wisdom, RJM addresses harm through circles, authentic dialogue, and transformative practices to individuals navigating recovery from substance use, managing mental health challenges, or transitioning through life’s many stages. As forever students of restorative practice, RJM offers culturally responsive programs and training that support individuals, families, schools, and organizations in building equity and sustainable peace. Through outreach and partnership, RJM helps shape a more compassionate and accountable future.
Mental Health
26.5%
An estimated 1,248,000 Missouri adults (or 26.5% of the adult population) had some degree of mental illness, according to a 2024 report from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health using annual averages. Among these, 301,000 adults (or 6.4%) had a serious mental illness.
An estimated 264,000 adults (or 5.6%) had serious thoughts of suicide in the past year, with 71,000 (1.5%) making a plan and 35,000 (0.7%) attempting suicide.
Investing in restorative justice not only leads to reduced incarceration rates and lower court expenses but also supports better mental health outcomes within communities. By fostering healing and reconciliation, these programs can mitigate the psychological impacts of crime, contributing to overall community well-being and reducing long-term mental health service costs.
Unhoused
23.7%
According to data from the 2023 HUD Point-in-Time Count for Missouri, the total number of people experiencing homelessness was 6,708. Of this total, 30% were unsheltered. The number of chronically homeless people was 1,590, making up approximately 23.7% of the state's total homeless population.
The tornado, which occurred on May 16, 2025, caused an estimated $1.6 billion in damage and affected over 10,000 homes and buildings. St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer stated that the tornado left "thousands of St. Louis families without safe, stable housing." Although there is yet no data, this catastrophe only increased the number of the unhoused community.
Since Jan. 1, 2023 it is a Class C misdemeanor for those experiencing homelessness in Missouri to camp on state-owned land. Cities that don’t enforce the ban, or that refuse to enforce existing local ordinances on public camping, can be sued by Missouri’s attorney general.
Critics say there is still a lack of clarity from the state surrounding its implementation — and a lack of resources to actually help unhoused residents.
Substance Use
$8.5B
In 2024, the Missouri Department of Mental Health estimated that the societal cost of substance use disorders in the state is approximately $8.5 billion annually
According to a 2024 report, statewide drug overdose deaths saw a significant decline, with deaths from all drug types dropping by 23% in the first six months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Fentanyl-involved deaths also decreased by 30% statewide during this time.
Despite this progress, significant racial disparities persist in overdose deaths. While statewide data shows an overall decrease, reports from 2023 and the first half of 2024 reveal that Black men in St. Louis City and County continue to have the highest mortality rates from drug overdose deaths, dying at a rate three times higher than the next demographic group. Fentanyl remains present in almost all opioid-involved deaths in the St. Louis metropolitan area (98% in the City and 93% in the County).
Our Commitment
RJM is committed to healing, accountability, and collective transformation. We honor the power of restoration over punishment, connection over division, and justice rooted in love. We strive to live these values in our work, relationships, and everyday choices—building a world where all people, in their full diversity, can live with dignity and equity. ➝]
Programs & Impact
RJM provides healing-centered programs that address harm, build accountability, and support transformation. Through restorative circles, intergenerational engagement, and culturally rooted healing, we serve people in recovery, unhoused communities, and those facing mental health or life transitions. Our outreach offers vital resources, harm reduction, and education, while training and peer support help foster justice, connection, and collective healing
Education, Workshops, & Trainings
RJM offers dynamic, healing-centered trainings grounded in Indigenous practices, restorative justice, and trauma-informed care. Our workshops challenge historical narratives, address personal and collective trauma, and explore the impact of systemic oppression. Facilitated in schools, conferences, organizations, and communities, RJM creates culturally responsive spaces for learning, accountability, and transformation. With a focus on active listening, community agreements, and emotional safety, our trainings equip participants to restore trust, build equity, and foster meaningful change.
Join the Movement
The Movement is a growing network led by RJM, uniting grassroots organizations, justice-impacted individuals, educators, and community members committed to healing, accountability, and community reconciliation. Together, we work to restore relationships, repair harm, and build systems rooted in dignity, equity, and love.
Join us in the work to RESTORE, REBUILD, REPAIR, and RENEW