RCMP Launch New Restorative Justice Program
Prince George, B.C. – The Prince George RCMP is looking for volunteers to take part in a new restorative justice program.
Restorative justice is a non-adversarial, non-retributive approach to justice that focuses on the needs of the victims and the offenders, as well as involvement from members of the community.
Youth strategy and resource coordinator Melvin Campbell with the RCMP’s Community Policing Unit adds it’s been formed to help bolster the Prince George Urban Aboriginal Justice Society.
“We are looking to fill a gap that would enhance their existing program,” he says. “So what we’re looking at doing is having a volunteer based program that will target 13-17 year old youth in an effort to address some of their criminal behaviour in a different manner.”
Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, he says police have the option of referring youth to existing programs “in an effort to make sure they don’t end up with a criminal record.”
So how can the public help?
“What we’re looking at doing is establishing a volunteer based program that will bring on volunteers that will act as facilitators to run community justice forums,” says Campbell. “So that we can look to address some of the harm done to the community and provide a resolution that the victim feels is satisfactory.”
He estimates volunteers would be required to commit to roughly 15 hours a month, adding “that will be based on the number of referrals we have and the number of volunteers we have.”
Campbell is looking for 20-30 volunteers, and says they are looking for a specific skill set.
“We’re looking for some very knowledgeable, confident volunteers because they’re going to be put in some interesting situations and they have to have very good articulation skills and feel confident in the decisions they make.”
Training for this opportunity will be provided free of charge and will take place July 13-15 with additional training opportunities in the fall.
Those interested should contact Linda Parker by calling 250-561-3319 or by emailing her at linda.parker@princegeorge.ca.
You can also contact Melvin Campbell at 250-277-8958 or at melvin.campbell@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
Comments
My daughter was put through the Urban Aboriginal Justice Society after she shoplifted and hit the responding police officer. She continued on to a life of shoplifting until she was finally made to take responsibility for her actions. She laughed at the police after she got away with it. They eventually caught her and she was not allowed to hide behind these ladies again so the RCMP finally charged her.
I really feel for you western.
‘…Restorative Justice principles are based on the understanding of compassion, that no one is an island, and that everyone is an equal member of society and has a contribution to make to the greater good. Therefore, when a person becomes alienated or disconnected from that society, it is the responsibility of everyone in that society to bring the person back into a harmonious relationship with him/her “self”, as well as with the rest of the community. This may mean that the society itself needs to take a long hard look at its own practices and systems which may be “contributing factors” to the person’s alienation from it. The society may need to heal itself…’
Well I call bs. on this bit of lefty gov. of Canada gobbly gook. Now I know where Trudeau junior got his lines about how to deal with terrorists…he copied it verbatim. Everyone out there knows the difference between right and wrong and when you break into someones home you know you are in the wrong.
I wish the insurance companies took proactive action against these losers and so should the courts.
I have to agree with the two prior posters. This is just to try to lessen the backlog in the courts. There is an adult program as well where they are referred by crown counsel but they must be willing to accept responsibility. This is mostly for property type offences. There is no way I would recommend anybody for any kind of diversion, adult or youth when there is a victim involved who suffered some kind of physical injury at the hands of a guilty party. first nations try to recommend a healing circle….bah….most of the first nations youth know they can get away with stuff if they follow the lead. A lot of gangs recruit youths for this very reason….they will get away with thefts, thefts from autos, break and enters, etc…and be out to do more. Its all a cat and mouse game out there people….many who are caught have been at it and gotten away with several more times.
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