Restorative Justice
Restorative Justice focuses on the harm done and the solutions
required for healing and reparations.
Restorative Justice is not just a program or a process, but a philosophy grounded in values and principles that shape how individuals and communities respond to harm. Restorative Justice is flexible around the needs of the person who was harmed, which makes it a unique and powerful intervention in addressing harm.
At the Comox Valley Community Justice Centre, staff and volunteers facilitate processes that promote accountability, repair harm, and help rebuild trust between the people involved and their community. Through an inclusive process that highlights, communication, accountability, and restitution, Restorative Justice repairs harm and strengthens relationships.
At the Community Justice Centre, we use Peace Circles and the Restorative Conference model to bring people together in a supported, respectful, and structured way. Typically, participants meet face to face. Other times, the Centre will “shuttle” between parties — sharing information, reflections, and messages — when that approach is more appropriate.
Each process is shaped around the needs of the people impacting, making Restorative Justice a flexible and powerful alternative within the criminal justice system and to address other harms that occur in communitiers.
The Community Justice Centre accepts criminal
and non-criminal referrals
We receive referrals from:
RCMP and Crown Counsel
Loss prevention officers
Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Department of Conservation
Municipal and regional bylaw officials
The school district
Community and not-for-profit organizations
Businesses
Other community members looking for meaningful responses to harmful actions
If you’re curious about making a referral, contact us at info@communityjusticecentre.ca or 250-334-8101.
Visit our FAQs for more information.
Principles for Restorative Justice Practice
Reparation
Focus on acknowledging and repairing the physical, emotional, and financial harm caused by crime and meeting the needs of those affected.
Respect
Treat all participants with dignity, compassion, and equal consideration.
Voluntariness
Ensure the participation of victims, offenders, and community members is voluntary, and based on free, informed, and ongoing consent.
Inclusion
Foster and support the meaningful participation of those affected, including victims, offenders, their friends, their families, and their communities.
Empowerment
Enable participants to communicate openly and honestly and to have an active role in determining how to address their needs, as they see them.
Safety
Attend to the physical, emotional, cultural, and spiritual safety and well-being of all participants. Participation in Restorative Justice should not result in further harm to any participant.
Accountability
Assist those who have caused harm to acknowledge and take responsibility for harm and reparation.
Transformation
Provide opportunities for understanding, healing, and change, and contribute to the restoration and reintegration of complainants and respondents.
— As summarized by the Canadian Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat
