30 - North Shore News — Sunday, November 12, 2000

Restorative justice emerging legal

THE week of Nov. 12
to 18 has been designat-
ed the second annual
Restorative Justice
Week.

A restorative philosophy
views justice in a different way
from the retributive, adversari-
al system we currently use. It
calls for positive actions by the
offender to repair the harm
done to the victim and the
community rather than focus-
ing, simply on the amount of

punishment the offender
: should receive.
It allows for and encour-
ages the victim, the offender
~ and the community to play an
active role in the resolution of
the conflict rather than the pas:
sive role required by the adver cr-
Sarial criminal justice system.

Instead of focussing on the
legal aspects of the offence,
restorative programs concen-
trate on the issues that are
important to the people aflect-
ed by the offence with the sat-
isfaction of the parties as the
key determinant of success.

Restorative justice pro-
grams assist victims by allow-
ing them to ask questions of
the offender about the crime
while also giving them the
opportunity to tell the offend-
er how the crime affected
them.

During this process an
agreement can be negotiated
that can include restitution or
reparation for the victim and
the community. In this way,
restorative justice encourages
the offender to take personal
responsibility for actions.

Restorative justice as a con-
cept has been around for cen-
turies and restorative practices
have been used in many differ-
ent societies. Recently, victims
have been asking that more
attention be paid to their needs
by the criminal justice system
and this is one of the options
available to provide this much-
needed involvement.

In Canada, programs are
emerging that offer a restora-
tive option for use by the
courts, the police and schools.
Pro; y in the point at
which they are_used (before a
charge is laid, after a charge is
laid bur before sentencing or
after sentencing) and in the

articipants that are involved.
owever, all restorative pro-

“grams have a similar view of
crime as more than simply

breaking the law. Restorative
justice acknowledges that
crime causes injuries to vic-
tims, offenders and the com-
munity and the criminal justice
system should help repair
those harms, with the direct
involvement of all parties
affected.

Restorative programs use a
process whereby all parties
with a stake in a specific
offence come together to
resolve collectively how to deal
with the aftermath of the
offence and its implications for
the future. This occurs with
the assistance of a trained neu-
tral facilitator. Several key ele-
ments include: community
articipation, the active partic-
ipation of the parties and a
problem-solving orientation.
Restorative programs include:

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victim offender mediation,
conferencing, sentencing cir-
cles, peacemaking circles, and
others.

Restorative justice requires
a fundamental mind shift of
public perceptions of crime
and justice. A community
needs to question whether it
wants imprisonment to be its
major form of social: control
and challenge each other to
come up with more creative
ways of dealing with conflict.

The North Vancouver
Restorative Justice Society is
based in the Gerry Brewer
building on 14th St.

If you are interested in
finding out more about
restorative justice contact the
John Howard Society ‘of the
Lower Mainland at (604) 872-
5651.

52.

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Vegetable oa
Soup
Chicken Noodle, |
Cream of
Mushroom, 284 mi-
{Limit 4) ‘

Pepsicc Diet Pepsi,
7-Up, Diet 7-Up,
2titre
(Limit 6 each

2 -/ Bias deposit:

* bo% Whole Wheat, ;

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We réserve the right”
* toll ienit quantities.

For more information
639-5300.

MONDAYS

Friendship Toastmasters:
Mectings are Monday :
evenings at -

Capilano Library, 3045

Highland Bivd, N.V. Info: °

Gordon at 980-6439. .

Lesbian. and
Women’s Drop-in Group:
Also for women who are ques-.;
tioning sexual orientation will
mect bi-weekly on Monday.
evenings, fom 7-9 p.m,. at the:
North Shore Women’s Centre.’
Next meeting in Nov. 20. Info:

984-6009, -

Parent | Coffee * Mornisgs
‘- Every.- Monday, . 9:30-11:3
““am., at St. Johns Church, 220:

W. 8th St.,°N.V.’ Bring ‘your

~ kids, 0-6 years, “and lis to
‘ uest speakers

Meetings are Monday evenings
at 7:15 p.m. Guests welcome:
Info:; Li Ying,:. 926-878 “ot
Jaa, 904-0616.

“NVRC Outdoor Club iieets
. the. ast. ‘Monday - of. i
“month. Ongoing trips wei

‘Pickup the Mountain ‘News a

all’ North’ ‘Van recCent

7:15 p.m, :