.jpg)
True Dialogue Restorative Justice Centre
​Restorative Justice Facilitation Services
Process Overview - the criminal justice system referral authority (police, crown prosecutor) submits a referral form (see resources) to rjcentre@truedialogue.ca or may call 780-520-2183 to discuss the suitability of a referral. If suitable, discuss the best way to manage the referral process.
The assigned facilitator will schedule an intake meeting with the involved legal authorities (police/crown prosecutor, defence lawyer, child and family services, victim services) to review the incident of harm, inquire about their level of involvement in the process, and review a customized participant consent form. The facilitator meets with other Indigenous, culturally relevant/community agencies before contacting the primary parties and beginning planning for a restorative process.
A restorative process may include one or more events, such as a victim-offender dialogue, restorative justice circle, community conference, Healing, or peacemaking circle, and take 2 - 6 months to complete.
Skillful facilitators carefully design a process to meet the needs of the person harmed, those responsible, and the referral authority's expectations. This is a voluntary option for the accused, provided they are willing to take responsibility for the criminal offence. Victims voluntarily choose to participate and are offered various options for participation agreeable to them. They are not required to participate if they feel unsafe or choose not to be involved for any reason. Support people are identified, the parties are informed, and they agree on who will attend.
A restorative process provides a safe and respectful forum for involved parties to share their perspectives on the impact of the harmful incident, decide what needs to happen to make amends, address the root issues to prevent recurrence, and restore peaceful relations for public safety.
For non-criminal incidents of harm or general conflicts, schools, community agencies, and self-referrals can email rjcentre@truedialogue.ca to explore service options. Child and Family Service agencies can also contact True Dialogue about Family Group Conferencing facilitation services to develop safety or permanency plans for children/youth at-risk or in care.
Photo: Community Meeting on how to support Youth Involved in the Criminal Justice System, Fort McMurray, 2019
REFERRAL CRITERIA CONSIDERATIONS
Is there a specific incident to focus on? Is there an identifiable person who was harmed or a community impact?
Examples include:
- Harassment or threats to another person
- Violence or threat of violence
- Physical harm (to a person or a property)
- Disruption of someone’s social network that has significant social repercussions, such as causing enough fear or humiliation for a youth to feel isolated, which in turn impacts their well-being.
​
Do the individual/s responsible acknowledge their role in the harm caused?
- If charges have not been laid (but could be), the youth or adult can accept responsibility without conceding legal guilt (use of Police Discretion)
- If criminal charges have been laid, a guilty plea must be entered. If the person charged maintains innocence, a court trial is the appropriate route.
- For non-criminal misconduct incidents, restorative justice offers a viable option for restoring a climate of mutual respect and intercultural understanding.
​​
Are there secondary parties affected who could benefit from a restorative process to promote healing and reconciliation, such as:
- An incident is disruptive enough to jeopardize productivity, learning, and relationships.
- Family, friends, or colleagues may harbor unresolved feelings about a traumatic incident, impacting their sense of safety and well-being.
- An individual is returning after being gone for some time (post-custody, group home placement, suspension), and a restorative process can foster successful reintegration (workplace, school, family, community) in a manner that restores their dignity and sense of self-worth through a supportive process aimed at reinstating meaningful connections.
Is this a general conflict or a harmful incident impacting wellness, safety, or productivity/operations?
-
If an incident causes an individual to worry about the safety of the community, even if their family, friends, or colleagues are not directly harmed. Peacemaking listening circles provide a safe space for processing critical incidents and promoting community healing.
​
Is there a child/youth at risk or in the care of Child and Family Services?
-
Family group conferencing (FGC) provides a non-threatening approach for families to come together positively and work collaboratively with the social worker and other involved supports/non-relative caregivers, to develop safety and permanency plans.
-
Useful at any stage of involvement with child and family services
-
FGC offers a powerful process for Indigenous families to begin the process of recovery from the experience of intergenerational trauma.​
REFERRAL FORMS
*You must have Adobe Reader installed on your device. You may have to save this document to your computer before opening. This document is not available on mobile devices.