Congratulations to our 2022 Liberty Bell Award recipient, Margaret Kulujian! 

Margaret is the coordinator for the Restorative Justice Community Court (RJCC) in Avondale. The RJCC is an alternative form of justice rooted in the belief that repairing harm, building empathy and restoring relationships is a better way to prevent, deter, and respond to crime. The RJCC is the first court of its kind in Cook County to adopt peace circles as the resolution process for criminal cases for adults. For every case, the RJCC brings together the person charged, the person harmed, and the community members in a confidential conversation in a peace circle. The RJCC helps reduce criminal convictions, which can create a barrier to individuals participating fully in society and the workforce.

Margaret is pictured below with Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans, who oversees the Restorative Justice Community Court.