Restorative Justice
Restorative Justice
Restorative justice is a way of addressing conflict that enables the individual who caused harm, the people who were affected by it, and the larger community to work together to create a meaningful resolution. In contrast to criminal justice responses, which seek to punish each act of wrongdoing, restorative justice focuses on repairing harm and restoring relationships.
Restorative practices not only provide us with tools to deal with conflict more effectively and responsibly than punitive approaches, they also provide us with a better framework for understanding conflict—how it arises and who is affected by it. For young people in our education and justice systems, punitive responses, such as suspensions and expulsions or criminal charges, do not address the underlying causes that led to conflict, nor do they recognize that young people in conflict with the justice system or at school are often victims too.
Canada’s Youth Criminal Justice Act includes several provisions that are consistent with restorative justice principles and practices including Section 3 (Principles), Section 10 (Extrajudicial measures), Section 19 (Conferences), and Section 42 (Youth sentences).
At Peacebuilders, we use restorative practices to keep young people out of the criminal justice system, make schools safer places for learning and development, and build strong and healthy communities. We developed Peacebuilding Circles, which were adapted from the Peacemaking Circles practiced in many First Nations in Canada, in particular those used in the Carcross/ Tagish First Nation.
Northwest Region
Indian Youth Friendship Society’s Aboriginal Community Council Program
https://tbifc.ca/program/aboriginal-community-council-program/
The Indian Youth Friendship Society’s Aboriginal Community Council Program aims to restore a greater degree of responsibility by the Aboriginal community within the City of Thunder Bay for the conduct of Aboriginal people in conflict with the justice system.
Ne’Chee
Ne’Chee’s Indigenous Community Justice Program (ICJP) Is an Indigenous diversion program that focuses on culturally-based responses to offender behaviour. This Program addresses underlying causes and/or factors affecting participants.
The ICJP also seeks to address the needs of those impacted by a criminal offence, and can include victims, families, and other representatives in Program processes.
Nishnawbe-Aski Nation
https://nanlegal.on.ca/restorative-justice/community-youth-justice-initiative/
Nishnawbe-Aski Nation’s Youth Restorative Justice program is modelled after the Restorative Justice program.
Diversion referrals are received from the courts, police, educators, parents and probation officers. Once a diversion referral form is received, the Youth Restorative Justice Worker (YRJW) begins to plan for a Circle to take place. In the Circle, the youth is given the opportunity to understand his/her behaviour, and how it affected others around them.
Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres
Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres’ Aboriginal Community Justice Program provides an alternative to court for Indigenous adults and youth that have acquired criminal charges.
In communities where these programs exist, Indigenous accused have the option to apply to have their charges diverted (deferred) out of the courts and placed into the Aboriginal Community Justice Program. Each program has an operational protocol agreement with their local Crown Attorney’s office that outlines the process, the charge types, and eligibility requirements to participate in the program.
Northeast Region
Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres
Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centre’s Aboriginal Community Justice Program provides an alternative to court for Indigenous adults and youth that have acquired criminal charges.
In communities where these programs exist, Indigenous accused have the option to apply to have their charges diverted (deferred) out of the courts and placed into the Aboriginal Community Justice Program. Each program has an operational protocol agreement with their local Crown Attorney’s office that outlines the process, the charge types, and eligibility requirements to participate in the program.
United Chiefs and Council of Mnidoo Mnising Community Justice
http://www.uccmm.ca/justice.html
The UCCMM Justice Program was established in 1994 as an alternative to contemporary Canadian criminal justice regimes. It is based upon traditional Anishinaabe values and beliefs including the need for healing and reconciliation, prevention of future criminal occurrences, accountability for offender’s actions, and general reconciliation of offender, victim, and community.
West Region
N’Amerind Aboriginal Community Justice Program
The N’Amerind Aboriginal Community Justice Program (NACJP) is a post-charge diversion program within the London and area for Aboriginal people (Status, Non-Status, Métis and Inuit) who are in conflict with the law. This program uses a holistic community based approach to the resolution of conflict and social order.
Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres
Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres’ Aboriginal Community Justice Program provides an alternative to court for Indigenous adults and youth that have acquired criminal charges.
In communities where these programs exist, Indigenous accused have the option to apply to have their charges diverted (deferred) out of the courts and placed into the Aboriginal Community Justice Program. Each program has an operational protocol agreement with their local Crown Attorney’s office that outlines the process, the charge types, and eligibility requirements to participate in the program.
Central West Region
Miikanaake Aboriginal Community Justice Program
http://www.enaahtig.ca/portfolio-item.php?id=7
Miikanaake Community Justice Program offers Court Diversion for Aboriginal pre and post-charge diversion for adults and youth uses a holistic alternative to the criminal justice system with the client and community taking responsibility for its members. The diverted individual will voluntarily agree to carry out a plan that seeks to restore balance. Miikaanaake will encourage community involvement to help bring balance and harmony to the individuals’ life, community and nation.
Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres
Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centes’ Aboriginal Community Justice Program provides an alternative to court for Indigenous adults and youth that have acquired criminal charges.
In communities where these programs exist, Indigenous accused have the option to apply to have their charges diverted (deferred) out of the courts and placed into the Aboriginal Community Justice Program. Each program has an operational protocol agreement with their local Crown Attorney’s office that outlines the process, the charge types, and eligibility requirements to participate in the program.
Three Fires
http://threefirescommunityjustice.ca/
The OFIFC Community Justice Program is an initiative developed in response to needs expressed by Aboriginal people who have been through the courts (criminal, youth and family) and to the broad over-representation of Aboriginal peoples in the mainstream justice system. The Community Justice Program is built on the Aboriginal Court-worker Program. Community Justice Programs are developed in communities that have undergone a comprehensive needs assessment and where funding has been made available.
Central East Region
Victim Offender Reconciliation
https://www.cjadurham.org/vorp
The Victim-Offender Reconciliation Program (VORP) is a community-based program which offers the courts and community a different way of dealing with the aftermath of crime. VORP provides an opportunity for a victim and offender to meet face-to-face in order to find a mutually satisfying solution to the offence and its effects. Participants are given a chance to ask questions about the offence, to express their feelings and to negotiate an agreement for repayment of losses when these occur. Participation is voluntary and mediation meetings are arranged and facilitated by trained volunteer mediators.
Elizabeth Frye
http://elizabethfrysociety.com/
Restorative Justice Program
This is an approach to conflict resolution focusing on the community and the perspective that, “It takes a village to raise a child.” The program seeks to repair harm caused by the youth, while holding them accountable for their actions. It ideally involves the active participation of the community, the young person, their parent(s)/guardian and the victim(s). The cooperation of local police services, courts and community agencies wishing to use this form of conflict resolution as an alternative to the formal justice system is fundamental.
Upon referral, the youth will sit in a Restorative Justice Circle with trained volunteers from the community, staff, and the victim in an effort to make amends for their actions.
For more information contact Rhonda Leduc at 705-725-0613 ext 222 or email her at rhondal@elizabethfrysociety.com
Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres
Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres’ Aboriginal Community Justice Program provides an alternative to court for Indigenous adults and youth that have acquired criminal charges.
In communities where these programs exist, Indigenous accused have the option to apply to have their charges diverted (deferred) out of the courts and placed into the Aboriginal Community Justice Program. Each program has an operational protocol agreement with their local Crown Attorney’s office that outlines the process, the charge types, and eligibility requirements to participate in the program.
East Region
Collaborative Justice Program
http://www.collaborativejustice.ca/EN/
The Collaborative Justice Program begins begins when a Caseworker meets with the person accused of the crime to assess whether she/ he is:
- taking responsibility, and is
- willing to work towards repairing the harm caused
If the accused meets these criteria, s/he is accepted into our voluntary, confidential process where values such as accountability and truth telling are encouraged.
The Caseworker will then contact the victim(s), describe the services and goals of the Program, and invite voluntary participation. If the victim is interested, the case proceeds.
The Program only accepts cases where both victim and accused choose to participate.
Full Circle (Renfrew County)
http://restorative-practices.blogspot.com/
FULL CIRCLE Restorative Practices is a new and exciting company bringing restorative options to the communities of Renfrew County.
Full Circle partners with local agencies to provide restorative justice facilitation on a sliding scale, making justice affordable to all people.
Lanark County Community Justice
Lanark County Community Justice’s core services involve a court diversion program on referrals from the OPP, the Town of Smiths Falls Police and from the Crown Attorney’s office for both youth and adult offenders. The Ministry of the Attorney General assists with some funding for offenders aged 12 to 17 years of age.
Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres
Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres’ Aboriginal Community Justice Program provides an alternative to court for Indigenous adults and youth that have acquired criminal charges.
In communities where these programs exist, Indigenous accused have the option to apply to have their charges diverted (deferred) out of the courts and placed into the Aboriginal Community Justice Program. Each program has an operational protocol agreement with their local Crown Attorney’s office that outlines the process, the charge types, and eligibility requirements to participate in the program.
Toronto
Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres
Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres’ Aboriginal Community Justice Program provides an alternative to court for Indigenous adults and youth that have acquired criminal charges.
In communities where these programs exist, Indigenous accused have the option to apply to have their charges diverted (deferred) out of the courts and placed into the Aboriginal Community Justice Program. Each program has an operational protocol agreement with their local Crown Attorney’s office that outlines the process, the charge types, and eligibility requirements to participate in the program.
St. Stephen’s Community House
St. Stephen’s Community House works with individuals and communities primarily in downtown Toronto to identify, prevent and alleviate social and economic problems by developing and delivering a range of highly effective and innovative programs.
The Land
Peacebuilders acknowledges that we live and work on Turtle Island, in Tkoronto, the traditional and current territories of the Haudenosaunee (Huron-Wendat, Seneca) and the Ojibwe (Missassaugas of the Credit River) First Nations. This territory is part of the Dish with One Spoon Treaty, an agreement between the Anishnaabeg, Haudenosaunee and allied nations to peaceably share and care for the resources around the Great Lakes. This territory is also covered by the Upper Canada Treaties. Today, Tkoronto is home to many Indigenous peoples.
As part of this acknowledgement, we recognize that we are learning what it means to live and work on Indigenous Land, and respect Indigenous nationhood, laws, governance, and practices.
