Reimagining Reintegration in Relationship, Trust & Hope: A Reflection by Dr. Hannah Chesterton

Hannah Chesterton, Assistant Professor of Criminology at Catholic University of America, shares her personal journey of discovering AVSI-USA’s work, her close relationship with Simonetta d’Italia Wiener, and how her research on supporting recently released individuals aligns with the Restorative Freedom Initiative’s goals. This collaboration has deepened her commitment to justice and transformed her understanding of reintegration.

I first encountered AVSI-USA in 2022, when I was invited to speak on a panel after the screening of Unguarded – Simonetta d’Italia Wiener’s film about the transformative APAC methodology – at the Catholic University of America.

Having recently joined the university as an assistant professor of criminology, I was immediately struck by how AVSI-USA and the Restorative Freedom Initiative advocate for a reintegration process rooted in relationship, trust, and hope. They embody the belief that every individual is worthy of love and capable of positive change.

Growing up in the UK, I’ve long been impacted by the U.S. prison system’s more punitive approach. Sometimes we remain tied to a failing, retributive system simply because we can’t envision any alternative that might actually work. Yet there I was, watching a documentary about a model that is working. Learning about the work of AVSI-USA and its reentry house partners, I was deeply moved to discover that APAC’s holistic methodology is already being adapted here in the U.S.

These community- and dignity-based approaches align closely with my own work. One of my current studies, conducted alongside a colleague involved with Prison Fellowship, examines the social and emotional stressors individuals face upon release. I hope to travel to Brazil this year to study APAC and then return to research the grassroots reentry homes that share these core values. At the heart of it all is the conviction that our communities are enriched when we journey alongside the formerly incarcerated.

Connecting with AVSI-USA and the Restorative Freedom Initiative has deepened my commitment to a justice system that sees beyond labels. True justice recognizes every person’s capacity for transformation and meaningful community.

Hannah Chesterton, Assistant Professor of Criminology at Catholic University of America, reflects on how her work supporting recently released individuals aligns with the Restorative Freedom Initiative’s (RFI) vision of justice rooted in dignity, trust, and hope. Through her collaboration with Simonetta d’Italia Wiener, filmmaker and RFI’s program coordinator, and AVSI-USA, Hannah has strengthened her commitment to reshaping reintegration and advocating for a system that sees beyond labels. RFI, in partnership with U.S.-based organizations, will continue drive cultural change by advancing the APAC methodology and fostering reflection and shared learning.