While the court process is appropriate for some criminal actions, there is an alternative for lesser offences, said Sue Lamb, a youth justice volunteer.The Community Justice Program of the Sunshine Coast is encouraging local business owners who are victims of crime to try a restorative justice circle or community accountability panel (CAP) rather than pressing charges in all cases of youth crime.
"Businesses don't see it [the justice circle] as an opportunity to establish better relationships with youth," said Lamb, volunteer treasurer. "I have been directly involved in this process and have been inspired by the effect it has had on young people."
Lamb wrote a grant proposal that resulted in the organization receiving a civil Forfeiture crime remediation and crime prevention program grant worth $9,500.
Lamb said the committee is trying to educate more than 400 businesses about their program via a mass mail-out and through individual meetings hosted by Elin McKinnon, co-ordinator for Community Justice.
A justice circle is held when the RCMP feel the case is appropriate, the youth takes responsibility for his actions and the victim is willing to participate. McKinnon interviews everyone involved ahead of time and all know what to expect from the process.
A trained volunteer facilitator, RCMP officer, victim(s) and their family or employees and the offender(s) and their family attend the justice circle to discuss the crime and its ramifications on individuals and the community.
Const. Glen Martin is the liaison for the committee. He said the Sunshine Coast RCMP is very supportive of restorative justice and noted that he rarely sees youth who go through the circle or panel process as repeat offenders.
During the process, he informs the youth about the more severe consequences they could have faced if they had been put through a court proceeding and received a criminal record. Even a youth criminal record can affect chances for employment and travel.
Lamb said when it works, the circle can be a profound healing experience for victims, a wake-up call for young offenders about criminal impact on community and a chance for parents or caregivers to see the youth in a different way that can sometimes lead to counselling or other interventions to help the young person.
If a business owner does not attend the circle, then a CAP is held, where a trained volunteer takes on the role of the broader community victim and helps the youth understand the impact of their crime.
"Sometimes they don't have the time or the resources and want to maintain good relations with the youth and family," McKinnon said about businesses that support restorative justice but don't attend the meeting.
To date, there have been six CAPs held in place of circles, and five of those cases involved businesses as the direct victim. Both McKinnon and Lamb, who is one of the proxy victims and in real life a business owner, said the CAP is a very emotional and effective experience for the young person.
McKinnon said the businesses all received a report once the youth completed their contract. In the envelope were a letter of apology from the youth, a cheque for restitution and a letter from McKinnon outlining the community service hours that the young person completed.
"They [youth] come into this filled with shame and remorse. It is emotional and difficult to take ownership for their crime. It's a very powerful process and they come out changed and able to hold their head high again," McKinnon said.
