Justice that asks what happened, and how to
make it right.
Punitive approaches ask what rule was broken and what the penalty should be. Restorative justice asks who was harmed and what it will take to make things right.
Treats the charge as the whole story.
A system-driven process.
Removes the young person from school or community.
Leaves the person harmed out of the process.
Custody costs over $100,000 per young person, per year.
Treats the charge as one moment, not an identity.
Creates room for everyone impacted to be involved.
Keeps the young person connected to school and family.
Gives the person harmed a voice in what happens next.
Community diversion costs under $10,000, and 8 in 10 who complete it don't reoffend.
Diversion first isn't our opinion. It's in the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Since 2003, Canada's youth justice law has named measures outside of court as a core principle. Restorative programs are how that principle happens in practice.
Read section 4 of the Act ›Extrajudicial measures are often the most appropriate and effective way to address youth crime.
Extrajudicial measures are presumed to be adequate to hold a young person accountable for his or her offending behaviour if the young person has committed a non-violent offence and has not previously been found guilty of an offence.
Everyone sits at the same level. Everyone gets a turn.
Prepare
A facilitator meets each person first, so no one walks in unprepared.
Listen
A talking piece moves around the circle. Whoever holds it speaks; everyone else listens.
Build consensus
Together, the circle decides how the harm will be repaired.
Follow through
We check in until the agreement is complete, and after.
Key principles of youth restorative justice
Reparation of harm
Accountability and responsibility
Inclusion
Healing
Prevention and reintegration
Questions people ask us
Is restorative justice going easy on young people?
No. Facing the person you harmed, and then making it right, is often harder than paying a fine. It asks a lot of the young person.
Do I need a referral?
No. Many people come through schools, courts or agencies, but you can reach out yourself.
Is it confidential?
Yes. We explain what information we need and why, and we ask for your consent before sharing anything.
Are you a law firm?
No. We provide legal education and support. For legal advice, we connect you with qualified lawyers.
Is the person who was harmed part of the process?
We try our best to include the person or people harmed if they've told us they would like to be involved, in a way that is appropriate for everyone.
I'm not sure this applies to me.
Reach out anyway. A short conversation can help you figure out next steps, with no commitment.