Santa Monica to launch historic Restorative Justice Program
January 28, 2026 3:45 PM
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Jan. 28, 2026) — The Santa Monica City Council Tuesday approved the launch of one of the largest locally funded restorative justice initiatives of its kind, establishing a $3.5 million Restorative Justice Fund and a new Restorative Justice Commission.
The citywide Restorative Justice Program aims to address historically rooted harm caused by past municipal actions, advancing a priority initiative tied to equity, reconciliation and historic accountability.
The program will be guided by three core components: a dedicated fund, a City Council–appointed Restorative Justice Commission to establish eligibility and oversight standards, and independent administration to ensure a fair, transparent and legally sound process.
The Restorative Justice Fund is initially seeded with $3.5 million in one-time funding received through the city’s Development Agreement with the RAND Corporation, with no impact on the city’s operations budget. Once the program is up and running, the Council will evaluate whether to incorporate an additional $2 million in one-time funds from the RAND agreement, set to be paid to the city by mid-2028.
“Santa Monica is choosing repair over rhetoric,” Mayor Caroline Torosis said. “With an initial $3.5 million investment and a clear, transparent process, the program Council approved reflects our commitment to doing the hard work of restorative justice with care and accountability. It is about putting real resources behind repair and setting an example for how cities can confront their history honestly and responsibly.”
The council action follows the city’s historical review and resolution of the Ebony Beach Club and Silas White case, which was resolved through a hybrid approach that both addressed the specific historical harm and laid the groundwork for a broader restorative justice infrastructure.
A mediated settlement reached in late 2025 included a $350,000 payment to the White family, the creation of a permanent Silas White exhibit at the Main Library, designation of Oct. 12 as “Silas White Day,” and authorization to rename a portion of Vicente Terrace as Silas White Street.
The new Restorative Justice Program is expected to launch by spring 2026.
For more information, click here for the staff report, or view the meeting discussion here.
Media Contact
Tati Simonian
Public Information Officer
Tati.Simonian@santamonica.gov
Categories
Council And Commissions, Programs