Accountability and Repair Conferencing (ARC)
ARC supports people harmed by serious violence and guides responsible parties through a structured accountability and repair process—so safety becomes durable, not temporary.
What is ARC?
Accountability and Repair Conferencing (ARC) is Raphah Institute’s restorative justice program that advances community safety by supporting people harmed by serious violence and guiding responsible parties through meaningful accountability and repair.
Accountability is always the aim; conferencing is readiness- and consent-based.
Conferencing is never required to receive support.
How ARC works
ARC follows a sequenced process that protects harmed-party autonomy while requiring rigorous responsibility from the responsible party:
Referral + initial screen (community or legal-system).
Early outreach to the harmed party—support is offered first.
Consent + readiness options (information-only, indirect engagement, or direct conferencing when desired and safe).
Responsible party screening for fit and capacity.
12–15 months of structured services (stability planning, accountability work, repair planning).
Preparation with each party separately (needs, boundaries, safety).
Conference / circle (when ready and consenting) leading to repair agreements.
Follow-through + monitoring, then transition to long-term connection as needed.
What Support Looks Like
Harmed-party Support
Trauma coaching
Referral + accompaniment for victim services
Victim compensation assistance
Stability supports across housing, healthcare, education, money, and social support systems
Responsible-party accountability
Accountability coaching
Behavior-change supports and pro-social development
Repair planning + follow-through
Stability supports across housing, healthcare, education, money, and social support systems
“Safety and autonomy are non-negotiable.
Harmed-party participation is always voluntary. Timing and format are guided by safety and readiness.
ARC does not currently take cases involving sexual violence or DV/IPV/relationship violence, due to elevated safety risks and the need for specialized approaches and partners.
We do not overpromise outcomes. We build clarity, consent, and durable follow-through.”
When ARC intersects with legal processes
ARC is designed to function inside or outside the legal system. In legal-system cases, ARC is never leverage for leniency and is not framed as “earning relief.” Instead, ARC offers a different process with defined expectations and transparent consequences—so participation is informed, not coerced by ambiguity.
Disposition clarity up front
Before someone begins ARC, we insist that people understand—in plain language—what completion means, what non-completion means, and what happens if the case returns to the legal process.
Frequently Asked Questions
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No. Options include information-only engagement, indirect engagement (letters/questions/statements/surrogates), or direct conferencing when desired and safe.
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Yes. Conferencing is never required to receive support.
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Typical case length is 12–15 months. However, we offer our support services for life.
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You can reach us anytime via our cYes—community referrals are a growth priority alongside legal-system referrals.