Family Violence Initiative

COMPENDIUM OF PROMISING PRACTICES TO REDUCE VIOLENCE AND INCREASE SAFETY OF ABORIGINAL WOMEN IN CANADA

ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES

Healing and Reintegration of Offenders

Program Name:

Elsipogtog Restorative Justice Program

Organization/Community:

Elsipogtog Health & Wellness Centre

Location:

Elsipogtog, New Brunswick

Website:

N/A

Goals and Objectives:

To obtain change that creates a safer community facilitating all affected community members' participation.

Target Group Description:

Band members ages 12 and over.

Program Description:

Seeks to reconcile victims and offenders through the use of traditional sentencing circles. The offender must be prepared to hear from the victim(s), and their families, which can include negative things as part of the process. The victim of violence can choose whether or not to have the crime dealt with through restorative justice approaches. Her experience and wishes for addressing the impact of the crime are heard. She must agree to a sentencing circle process and be willing to attend or have her victim impact statement shared with the circle. She must agree to the proposed sentence. The goal is for her to find safety in her community with support and the changes undertaken by the offender are part of the sentencing circle's decision.

Program Successes/Achievements:

Finding ways to meet the community's needs to create culturally appropriate services.

Key Lessons/Challenges:

Legal system policies and procedures can slow down client session negotiations.

Program in operation since:

2000.

Program:

Ongoing.