|
What is Restorative Justice?
Restorative Justice: A Program for Nova Scotia
Island Community Justice Society's beginnings
ICJS
Mission Statement
Service Philosophy
What is Restorative Justice?
Restorative Justice is fundamentally different from retributive justice. It focuses on what needs to be healed, what needs to be repaid, what needs to be learned in the wake of a crime. Rather than defining crime as a violation of the rules established by the state, Restorative Justice sees crime as a harm done to victims and communities. The victim is central to the processof defining the harm and how it might be repaired. The community is actively involved in holding offenders accountable, supporting victims, and ensuring opportunities for offenders to make amends.
The real essence of restorative justice is a face to face meeting between the victim and offender and members of the community. This meeting gives the victim a voice and allows the parties to develop an understanding of the crime and the steps needed to make amends.
Restorative Justice reflects a belief that justice should, to the greatest degree possible, achieve the following goals:
- invite full participation and consensus: the victim, the offender and the community
- heal what has been broken
- seek full and direct accountability
- reunite what has been divided
- strengthen the community, to prevent further harms
(From "Restorative Justice, A Vision for Healing and Change", Susan Sharpe, May 1998)
Restorative Justice: A Program for Nova Scotia
In September 1997, the Nova Scotia Department of Justice began the process of designing a restorative Justice program for Nova Scotia. The Department of Justice has taken a leadership role in establishing the legal framework and program standards, but each community agency which will be delivering the programs was invited to develop its own vision for service delivery.
In order for a Restorative Justice program to have real impact it needs to be flexible enough to meet the needs of many different offenders, victims and communities. Restorative options are available at four key entry points in the justice system:
- Police Entry Point (pre charge) - referral by police officers
- Crown Entry Point (post Charge/pre conviction) - referral by Crown Attorneys
- Court Entry Point(post conviction/pre sentence)- referral by Judges
- Corrections Entry Point( post sentence) - referral by Correctional Services or Victim's Service staff.
Phase One sees this program directed at youth aged 12 - 17 in the Halifax Regional Municipality, the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Cumberland County and the counties comprising the Annapolis Valley. The long term goal will be to extend this program province wide and then integrate it into the adult justice system as well.
For more information: www.gov.ns.ca/just
Island Community Justice Society's beginnings
Until the summer of 1999, Island Community Justice Society was known as Island Alternative Measures Society. Established in 1986, the Society administered a community based diversion service for first time young offenders, as well as other programs directed at youth in conflict with the law. Our approach has always been restorative and focused on community support. Alternative Measures hearings held with first time offenders were confidential gatherings, using a victim offender mediation model. Trained volunteers carried out all direct work with youth and families, and the small staff team was there to coordinate, supervise and support.
Our work since 1986 as a community-based conflict resolution agency has placed us in good stead for the our new role as a Community Justice agency with wide partnerships with the justice system.
Our network of 100 plus volunteers and 200 plus community placements have joined us in our transition to Island Community Justice Society, and in our commitment to deliver programs under this new mandate with the same energy and focus which brought us such success over the past twelve years.
Island Community Justice Society is a non-profit, community based agency which provides restorative justice services for youth, victims, and community to resolve the harm caused by youth criminal activity. Funding is provided by the Department of Justice. the Society is a member agency of the United Way of Cape Breton.
To provide a community based restorative justice service which brings together the victim, youth, and community to resolve conflict arising from an incident of criminal harm. Our restorative justice processes are based on :
- Respect for individual worth
- Accountability
- Reparation
- Reintegration
Service Philosophy
As a community agency charged with the delivery of Restorative Justice services in partnership with the formal justice system, Island Community Justice Society will strive to deliver a service which is equally respectful of the needs of victims and the task of guiding and redirecting youth in conflict with the law. We will create an opportunity for community members to participate in the delivery of restorative justice by creating a meaningful role for our volunteers. All our work will proceed from humanist principles of individual worth and belief in the merits of accountability.
Top of page
|
