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In northern Alberta, a restorative justice program is making a huge difference in a closely-knit community.
With just 68,000 residents, putting someone from Fort McMurray in prison or juvenile detention has a big impact. Instead, a restorative justice program established for the town’s youth in 2022 has been expanded to include adults, and the results are hugely positive.
Out of 115 participant offenders, only 1 has gone on to re-offend, a demonstration that personal responsibility mixed with forgiveness works when punishment may not.
One case study is that of a young resident called Sam (not his real name) who was “irked” by a comment made by his brother, and in response took a swipe at him with a kitchen knife.
Sam’s brother fortunately disarmed him, while their mother called the police who arrived and arrested the minor for aggravated assault. But instead of a conviction and a criminal record, he was offered a second chance through the restorative justice program.
To be part of the program, the offender must admit fault, and the victim has to agree to be present at that admission. While in the program, Sam got a driver’s license, a job, and, if it can believed, repaired his relationship with his brother such that they still live together in the big logging town.
“It has changed my view on how things could be done and how it actually heals the community as a whole,” Nicole Chouinard, manager of the region’s Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) victim services and restorative justice programs, told CBC, admitting she used to consider it too “soft.”
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AROUND THE WORLD:
Mark Hancock, RCMP chief superintendent, pushed for the program’s expansion to include his Wood Buffalo region and Fort McMurray after seeing its positive impact in Labrador.
“You have to face the person you’ve done the harm to, you have to hear how it affected them and how it affected their supporters as well,” added Hancock, who recounted one man saying that it would be harder than just going to court.
Alberta program data shows that restorative justice is effective at keeping people out of the criminal justice system, and there are now 21 organizations in 11 communities across the province that administer it.
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