Submitted on behalf of Communities for Restorative Justice (C4RJ)
Bopha Malone of Bedford has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Communities for Restorative Justice (C4RJ). Malone is a vice president and Regional Business Advisor at Enterprise Bank where she supports business development and sales efforts for the bank. With her husband, Tom, and their two children, she has lived in Bedford for three years.
C4RJ is a community-police partnership founded in 2000 to offer those affected by crime an alternative to the traditional judicial system. In the aftermath of wrongdoing, cases are referred to C4RJ by its 24 police department partners and the District Attorney offices of Middlesex and Suffolk counties. Through its restorative justice “circle process,” offenders are held accountable for their actions, more clearly understand the impact they had on others and are given an opportunity to make amends to those they harmed.
When Bopha Malone was nine years old, she and her family emigrated from Cambodia and settled in Lynn, Massachusetts. In addition to her role at Enterprise Bank, she has more than 20 years of experience serving the community and non-profits. Recently, she was a candidate for U.S. House of Representatives in Massachusetts’ 3rd district.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without the help of community organizations and caring mentors, but many of my peers did not have the same opportunities,” said Malone. “Young people from disadvantaged communities sometimes make mistakes, but I believe it is important to ensure these poor decisions don’t necessarily haunt them for the rest of their lives.
“I learned about C4RJ’s work and the positive impact they make in various communities through Margot Fleishman and Sarah Scoville, two caring, proactive and very involved women in Bedford. After meeting other C4RJ members and learning more about C4RJ’s vision and goals, I was excited to join. I believe I can help C4RJ with the challenge it faces to make its resources more accessible to people of many different backgrounds in many more communities.” She will serve a three-year term on the 12-member Board.
“Bopha brings a wealth of experience, both in the financial sector as well as through her extensive history of giving back to diverse communities. Our Board is truly delighted that she has chosen to share her skills with C4RJ and I’m very much looking forward to working with her in the years ahead,” says Fleischman, who currently serves as President of the Board of Directors of C4RJ.
C4RJ’s community partnerships are expanding rapidly within the Commonwealth. Its partners now include the police departments in Acton, Arlington, Bedford, Belmont, Boxborough, Burlington, Cambridge, Carlisle, Chelsea, Concord, Groton, Hudson, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Maynard, Newton, Stow, Sudbury, Wayland, Wellesley, Weston, Winchester and Winthrop; and the District Attorney Offices of Middlesex and Suffolk counties.
Restorative justice recognizes that crime is a violation of people and relationships, not just a violation of the law. The organization has more than 130 trained volunteers who meet with victims, offenders, their supporters, community members, and law enforcement personnel in a process that builds understanding on all sides and offers offenders an alternative to a court hearing and possible incarceration.
A graduate of Lesley University, Bopha Malone received both her bachelor and masters degrees in Business Management. She is a trustee of Circle Health (Lowell General Hospital), Lesley University, Middlesex Community College and Girls Inc. of Lowell, Bedford, Massachusetts Rotary Club, president of the Women Working Wonders Fund, and past president of the Board of the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association.
About Communities for Restorative Justice
Communities for Restorative Justice (C4RJ) provides a restorative justice option within the criminal justice system, wherein:
- Victims of crime are given the opportunity to address the people who have harmed them, ask questions in a safe environment, and help determine how the harm should be repaired.
- Offenders better understand the impact of their actions, are held meaningfully accountable and are encouraged to make amends to those they have harmed.
- The community offers support for the process, strengthening community connections, and engaging in matters of concern to its members.
Click this link to learn more about C4RJ ~ Communities for Restorative Justice
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