State Auditor Balderas Honors Students from the Restorative Justice Program

This past December, State Auditor Balderas went to DeVargas Middle School in Santa Fe to meet with students from the Restorative Justice Program. The Santa Fe program includes students from Alameda Middle School, DeVargas Middle School, and Santa Fe High School.  

This initiative promotes a value-based approach to responding to wrongdoing and conflict, with a balanced focus on the person harmed, the person causing the harm, and the affected community. Restorative justice focuses on transforming wrongdoing by healing the harm, particularly to relationships, that is created by harmful behavior. 

The class facilitates this process through creating a safe environment while creating common-ground with all stakeholders.  In addition, the students are using the new skills they have acquired to improve their own lives.  This value-based approach creates an environment where students can be honest, respectful, and accountable for their own actions.   

When State Auditor Balderas met with the students from the Restorative Justice Program, he was so inspired that he invited them to join him on a day-long tour of the legislative session.  During the tour, they were honored by Speaker Ben Lujan with a Certificate of Congratulations. “The Restorative Justice Program participants are truly making a difference in their communities by transforming their lives,” Balderas said.  

The trip culminated with the students presenting State Auditor Balderas with an award. Mary Louise, a teacher for the Restorative Justice Program, said, “Auditor Balderas is a great role model for the students in our program.  He took the time to invest in students whom he recognized are making a positive difference in the lives of others.  His passion for our young people reminds me of this; we make a living by what earn and we make a life by what we give.  He has truly motivated this class to believe that dreams can indeed become a reality."