The possibility of restoring a sense of order to life in the aftermath of crime…

The Restorative Justice Service generally works on a model of victim offender reconciliation. This means that, if it is possible and appropriate, the person who has been victimized and the person who has offended sit down together with a mediation team to attempt to come to an agreement that is RESTORATIVE, beginning to repair the harm caused by the offence.

At the same time the program is about JUSTICE. If the process is to come to a resolution, the victim must be satisfied with the outcome. Restorative justice is not “soft on crime.” It means that the person who has offended must face the specific person or people who were harmed by their actions, and be accountable to them in ways that the traditional justice system rarely holds them accountable.

It is a SERVICE. The incidents that people bring are very real and very important. Everyone in the community and every conflict is important. ResolveKingston takes this work very seriously, using well-trained, reliable, supported and supervised volunteer mediators.

Purpose of the Program

The Justice Committee process aims to resolve some minor offences outside the formal court process. The program provides an opportunity for eligible accused persons to meet the people they have victimized face to face in the presence of trained community volunteer mediators. The parties have an opportunity to talk about the incident, how they have been affected, and to negotiate a resolution that addresses the harm caused.
To be considered for the program an individual must:

• accept responsibility for the actions that led to the charge
• be willing to meet with the victim and the mediators to discuss the offence and how to address the harm caused
• be prepared to make amends for any harm caused

Some examples of ways this can be done are: apologizing, paying restitution and completing volunteer work 

How Referrals Can Occur:

Pre-charge

Informal

• The police, recognizing a conflict that may become worse if not dealt with can suggest participation in mediation

 Formal

•  

• The police, recognizing that a charge could be laid, but believing that an incident is suitable for diversion, can refer, only proceeding with a charge if the diversion is not successful

Post-charge

• People who have been victimized can request the diversion of a charge to the program
• The Crown can suggest that a case is suitable for diversion
• Individuals who are accused can also ask their Counsel or Duty Counsel about eligibility for diversion. Counsel will advise the participant about their rights and the benefits of the program.
• A judge can suggest that a case is suitable for diversion

Post-sentencing

– Adjunct

• Any of those involved can request a victim-offender meeting to seek to repair the harm

Some things to know

• The mediators do not take sides, or make decisions about who is right or wrong.
• no agreement until those involved are satisfied.

Advantages for people who have been victimized

• able to tell your story and be heard
• able to ask questions and better understand the incident
• able to help to shape an agreement that you see as being as just and fair as possible

Advantages for people who have offended

• able to accept responsibility for your actions
• a chance to try to repair the harm caused by your actions
• support in overcoming some of the things that contributed to your poor choices before, during and after the incident
• avoiding a criminal record for the offence

Advantages for the community

• ability to move forward quickly - effective use of time and resources
• high degree of follow-through and satisfaction among participants

How the mediation process works: 
A referral comes to us from the Police, Crown or Court

• We will contact the person who has been victimized and the person who has offended
• we will listen to your concerns and explain our service
• If you decide you want to try mediation, we will discuss who you would like to have attend the meeting for support
• we will contact the other party to see if they are willing to participate.
• If you both decide to go ahead, volunteer mediators will meet with each of you privately to get more information and make sure our process will meet your needs
• We will schedule a mediation meeting with the people involved in the conflict and their support
• Each party will be asked to tell what their story of the incident and how it has affected them
• the support people will also be asked to tell how they have been affected
• then each person, starting with the person will make suggestions for how the harm can be repaired
• after discussing these options, and when both parties are satisfied, a letter of understanding will be drawn up and signed by the participants
• a copy is given to each of the participants. It only becomes official when lawyers for the accused and the Crown, have “signed off” on it
• everything that is said during the mediation is confidential and cannot be used in court at a later date
• ResolveKingston will report to the court on the process and the agreement, but not what was said during mediation
• Restorative Justice Service is voluntary, confidential, and free for individuals.
  
  ResolveKignsalso has the capacity to facilitate other restorative processes such as Family Group Conferencing and Circles, in cooperation with community partners.

The possibility of restoring a sense of order to life in the aftermath of crime…

The Restorative Justice Service generally works on a model of victim offender reconciliation. This means that, if it is possible and appropriate, the person who has been victimized and the person who has offended sit down together with a mediation team to attempt to come to an agreement that is RESTORATIVE, beginning to repair the harm caused by the offence.

At the same time the program is about JUSTICE. If the process is to come to a resolution, the victim must be satisfied with the outcome. Restorative justice is not “soft on crime.” It means that the person who has offended must face the specific person or people who were harmed by their actions, and be accountable to them in ways that the traditional justice system rarely holds them accountable.

It is a SERVICE. The incidents that people bring are very real and very important. Everyone in the community and every conflict is important. ResolveKingston takes this work very seriously, using well-trained, reliable, supported and supervised volunteer mediators.

Purpose of the Program

The Justice Committee process aims to resolve some minor offences outside the formal court process. The program provides an opportunity for eligible accused persons to meet the people they have victimized face to face in the presence of trained community volunteer mediators. The parties have an opportunity to talk about the incident, how they have been affected, and to negotiate a resolution that addresses the harm caused.
To be considered for the program an individual must:

• accept responsibility for the actions that led to the charge
• be willing to meet with the victim and the mediators to discuss the offence and how to address the harm caused
• be prepared to make amends for any harm caused

Some examples of ways this can be done are: apologizing, paying restitution and completing volunteer work 

How Referrals Can Occur:

Pre-charge

Informal

• The police, recognizing a conflict that may become worse if not dealt with can suggest participation in mediation

 Formal

•  

• The police, recognizing that a charge could be laid, but believing that an incident is suitable for diversion, can refer, only proceeding with a charge if the diversion is not successful

Post-charge

• People who have been victimized can request the diversion of a charge to the program
• The Crown can suggest that a case is suitable for diversion
• Individuals who are accused can also ask their Counsel or Duty Counsel about eligibility for diversion. Counsel will advise the participant about their rights and the benefits of the program.
• A judge can suggest that a case is suitable for diversion

Post-sentencing

– Adjunct

• Any of those involved can request a victim-offender meeting to seek to repair the harm

Some things to know

• The mediators do not take sides, or make decisions about who is right or wrong.
• no agreement until those involved are satisfied.

Advantages for people who have been victimized

• able to tell your story and be heard
• able to ask questions and better understand the incident
• able to help to shape an agreement that you see as being as just and fair as possible

Advantages for people who have offended

• able to accept responsibility for your actions
• a chance to try to repair the harm caused by your actions
• support in overcoming some of the things that contributed to your poor choices before, during and after the incident
• avoiding a criminal record for the offence

Advantages for the community

• ability to move forward quickly - effective use of time and resources
• high degree of follow-through and satisfaction among participants

How the mediation process works: 
A referral comes to us from the Police, Crown or Court

• We will contact the person who has been victimized and the person who has offended
• we will listen to your concerns and explain our service
• If you decide you want to try mediation, we will discuss who you would like to have attend the meeting for support
• we will contact the other party to see if they are willing to participate.
• If you both decide to go ahead, volunteer mediators will meet with each of you privately to get more information and make sure our process will meet your needs
• We will schedule a mediation meeting with the people involved in the conflict and their support
• Each party will be asked to tell what their story of the incident and how it has affected them
• the support people will also be asked to tell how they have been affected
• then each person, starting with the person will make suggestions for how the harm can be repaired
• after discussing these options, and when both parties are satisfied, a letter of understanding will be drawn up and signed by the participants
• a copy is given to each of the participants. It only becomes official when lawyers for the accused and the Crown, have “signed off” on it
• everything that is said during the mediation is confidential and cannot be used in court at a later date
• ResolveKingston will report to the court on the process and the agreement, but not what was said during mediation
• Restorative Justice Service is voluntary, confidential, and free for individuals.
  
  ResolveKignsalso has the capacity to facilitate other restorative processes such as Family Group Conferencing and Circles, in cooperation with community partners.