Common Questions

Tri-County Restorative Justice Society is a not-for-profit organization responsible for administering the NS Restorative Justice Program for youth and adults in Yarmouth, Shelburne and Digby Counties.

Restorative Justice (RJ) recognizes that a crime causes harm to individuals and communities, and then asks how that harm can be addressed in a meaningful way. The RJ process brings together people connected to what happened – those who have been affected, those responsible for what occurred, and those who can support a good outcome. The process considers the contexts, causes and circumstances of a crime in order to address the harm caused, identify needs and move forward in a positive way.

RJ is person-first-approach to justice that is based on the understanding that justice is about the way in which we relate to and treat one another. RJ is used to foster conditions for just relations between individuals, groups, communities and institutions in society.

The Nova Scotia Restorative Justice Program (NSRJP) is a province-wide program which receives referrals for youth and adults who have come in conflict with the law. RJ is grounded in the following principles, which guide the development and implementation of the NSRJP:

• Relationally focused

• Comprehensive and holistic

• Inclusive and participatory

• Responsive

• Focused on promoting individual and collective responsibility & accountability

• Collaborative and non-adversarial

• Forward-focused

When a referral is accepted, our caseworker will contact all of the parties involved to understand the issues, needs and impacts related to the incident.

The caseworkers will then design the process, including the number, form and nature of sessions that might be held. The goal is to engage the parties in appropriate ways to come to understand and determine:

• what happened

• what matters about what happened (including harms and impacts)

• what needs to happen to address the harms and impacts in a way that will ensure a just outcome and just relations in future

Generally, a restorative process will involve one or more sessions that bring together those who are connected to the case. These people can include, as appropriate:

• those who have been harmed or otherwise affected

• those who hold responsibility for those harms

• those who can offer information or support the process

The plans, actions and outcomes of a restorative process vary depending on the situation, circumstances, issues and needs involved in each case. The agreements and expectations that are part of the plan are recorded and shared with the parties and as required with justice stakeholders. The Restorative Justice team provides follow-up support and supervision as required to ensure plans are successfully completed.

Respond to needs of individuals and communities affected by crime: With particular attention to the needs of victims and those harmed by crime (individuals and communities)

Harm reduction: reduce the cycle of harm and injustice, prevent further harm to vulnerable individuals and communities and reduce the over-representation of marginalized individuals in the justice system

Support individual and collective taking of responsibility for harm and public safety

Increase access to justice: more effective, timely, inclusive, equitable justice system

Provide responsive justice: human-centred justice processes that consider root causes and seek meaningful outcomes and responses

Increase public confidence and accountability in the administration of justice

Build and support healthy, safe and strong communities

• Youth between the ages of 12 and 17 can be referred to the Nova Scotia Restorative Justice Program.

• Adults may also be referred to Restorative Justice. This work is done in collaboration with Correctional Services.

Cases can be referred to the NSRSP at several entry points in the criminal justice process: before a criminal charge, before a conviction, or after a conviction. Referrals can be made by the police, Crown, the judiciary, corrections and victim-serving agencies. Nova Scotia also take a restorative approach within its justice system through restorative principles within specialty courts such as Mental Health/ Wellness Courts.

An individual, confidential meeting will take place after the caseworker receives your Restorative Justice (RJ) referral. This meeting is an opportunity for you (and your supporter, if needed) to meet with the caseworker and have a discussion about the referral.

During this private pre-session, your caseworker will:

• Explain the Restorative Justice process to you

• Ask you if you are willing to take responsibility for your actions and participate in RJ

• Gather information from you about what happened

• Talk about who has been affected by what happened

• Help you to think about who would be important to be part of this process

• Talk about responsibility , accountability, and empathy

• Talk about what you think you can do to make things right

• Talk about community resources available

If you have agreed to move forward and take part in Restorative Justice, we will then schedule a private meeting for the victim. If you have decided not to move forward, your referral will be sent back to your referral source for further action.

As a victim, there is no obligation to participate, however, as someone directly harmed or impacted by an offence, you will be supported to explore participation in the RJ process if you choose.

A caseworker will schedule a confidential meeting to discuss the Restorative Justice referral with you and any support you would like to bring along.

During this private meeting, the caseworker will:

• Explain Restorative Justice and help you make an informed decision about participation, with attention to your safety and well-being. It is okay if you are unsure if or how you want to participate or to change your mind. You have the option to withdraw from participating at any time

• Discuss how you have been affected by the incident (some examples may stem from being impacted emotionally, financially, or physically)

• Explore community resources which may be helpful to you

• Discuss options in moving forward in the RJ process.

  • Would you like to receive updates and information about your case?

  • Would you like to learn about additional resources in your community?

  • Would you like to participate in the preparation and/or follow-up phase only?

  • Would you like to participate in a face-to-face meeting with the referred person?

  • Would you like to identify a representative on your behalf to take your place?

  • Would you prefer to write down or document your experience to be shared on your behalf at a session?

• Discuss expectations for the Restorative Justice process

• Discuss community resources that may be helpful for victims and families

• Discuss who would be important to take part in the RJ session

Crime affects everyone differently. The RJ process aims to respond to the specific needs of each individual in a meaningful way.

For some, RJ allows for meaningful and active participation; it is a chance to have their voice and needs heard, and to share their story and what matters to them. Some people participate to have a say in the plan moving forward or to make requests for reparation or restitution. Others participate to ask questions to those who have harmed them about what happened, why it happened and what is going to happen next.

RJ may assist those affected by crime with opportunities for connection, validation, choices and increased feelings of safety. For many, the process provides a supportive environment where both the individual who has offended and the community can come to understand the gravity of the harm that has occurred. The process can also be helpful to obtain information about what is happening in the case or to learn about other available resources in the community.

The caseworker takes the information gathered from these pre-sessions and begins planning a facilitated Restorative Justice (RJ) session. The caseworker considers who would be helpful in the process moving forward. The RJ session is a voluntary process when those identified as being affected by the incident come together face-to-face for a group meeting.

Every RJ Agreement will look different. This is an individualized process. Some agreements have one term listed while others have many terms. Plans for the future aim to address the issues, harms and needs of those involved while supporting safe and healthy relationships. These plans often include commitments or actions to be completed by individuals responsible for harm and/or other participants.

Generally, restorative plans can include meaningful consequences or actions to repair the harm done to those impacted or the community, plans for those who have offended to make measurable life changes and plans to support the individual responsible for carrying out those obligations.

Plans vary depending on the circumstances of each case and are developed collaboratively through meaningful input from all impacted parties and those who can support the way forward.

Some examples of some RJ Agreement terms in the past have been:

• Restitution (paying back money)

• Anger management

• Counselling

• Making a Donation to a charity

• Personal Service work for Victim

• Verbal apology/ Written apology

• Referral to a local organization (Addictions Services, Mental Health, Driver Enhancement Officer, Fire Marshall, or Community Services)

• Completing a research paper

• Creative assignment (ex. Making a craft for a senior’s home, volunteering for a community event, designing a school poster on bullying, or presentation to a community group)

• Community Service Work

The RJ session participants will decide on a completion date. The completion date will be listed on your RJ agreement. Your caseworker will be calling you to make sure you are completing the terms of the agreement. If you are having trouble with any part of your agreement, call your caseworker right away to discuss.

Relationally Focused: attention to interconnections, seeking to understand and promote just relations between individuals, groups and communities

Comprehensive and holistic: takes into account histories, contexts and causes of harm and its impacts

Inclusive and participatory: culturally grounded and trauma-informed, attentive to the needs of parties and the safety and well-being of participants

Responsive: Contextual, flexible practice, accessible, efficient and effective processes, informed by data and knowledge

Focused on promoting individual and collective accountability & responsibility

Collaborative and non-adversarial: among parties to the process and system and community partners

Forward-focused: educative (not punitive), problem-solving, preventative and proactive

GOALS:

Respond to needs of individuals and communities affected by crime: with particular attention to the needs of victims and those harmed by crime (individuals and communities)

Harm reduction: reduce the cycle of harm and injustice, prevent further harm to vulnerable individuals and communities and reduce the over-representation of marginalized individuals in the justice system

Support individual and collective taking of responsibility for harm and public safety

Increase access to justice: more effective, timely, inclusive, equitable justice system

Provide responsive justice: human-centred justice processes that consider root causes and seek meaningful outcomes and responses

Increase public confidence and accountability in the administration of justice

Build and support healthy, safe and strong communities

Please reach out to Tri-County RJ directly:

Main Line

(902) 742-8262