December 1, 2016

Overview of Webinar

Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration2

Introduction by Catherine Bargen

About Restorative Justice Victoria (RJV)

A victim-centred approach in restorative justice (RJ)

The Partnership Guide project (view the guide here)

Ways for RJ and victim services (VS) agencies to collaborate

Introductions

Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration3

Catherine Bargen, Program Manager and Restorative Justice

Coordinator, Victim Services and Crime Prevention, Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General

Presenters from Restorative Justice Victoria:

Jessica Rourke, Complex Case Manager

Shanna Grant-Warmald, Program and Volunteer Manager

Andrew Kerr, Caseworker and Project Lead

RJ in British Columbia

Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration4

Introduction by Catherine Bargen

History of Restorative Justice Victoria

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Began in 2002

Founding members part of RJ Coalition at William Head Institution

Community consultation from 2002 - 2005

Signed MOUs with VicPD in 2006, Victoria Crown in 2008, Oak Bay PD in 2015

Referrals also from schools, ICBC, probation

Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration

Present-Day Restorative Justice Victoria

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3 staff members, 90 volunteers

2 programs:

Diversion

Integrated

Various models for dialogues, including victim healing circles

60 - 100 referrals per year

8-week training for volunteer facilitators and mentors

Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration

Present-Day Restorative Justice Victoria

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We refer to/collaborate with: Men’s Trauma Centre

Boys and Girls Club of Victoria

Greater Victoria Police Victim Services

Vancouver Island Region Restorative Justice Association (Jessica Rourke is vice-president)

Volunteer Victoria

Various counsellors and treatment centres

Esquimalt Teen Centre

Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration

Relationships between RJV and VS Agencies in Victoria

Referrals between RJV and VS (police- and community-based)

National Victims and Survivors of Crime Week symposia

VS volunteers trained to be specialized community member volunteers in RJ dialogues

Attending each others’ AGMs

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Relationships between RJV and VS Agencies in Victoria

Inviting VS staff and volunteers to our trainings

Attending events and trainings together, e.g. critical incident stress debriefing, community forums

VS employee on RJV board 2014-2016

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Benefits of VS-RJ Partnerships

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Quality of service: RJ community can better meet needs of victims

Information-sharing: both agencies can learn about relevant resources, strategies, and concepts for victims

Relationship-building: strengthen networks and communities

Filling the gaps: criminal justice system alone may not meet all victims’ needs. RJ and VS can work together to deliver more thorough services and prevent victims from falling through the cracks

Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration

Victim-Centred Approach to Crime

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Victims must consent to the RJ referral

Voluntary participation (for everyone)

Being flexible, adaptive, and responsive to victims

Empowering victims with dignity, choice, and respect

Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration

Victim-Centred Approach to Crime

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No participation

Possible participation

Indirect participation

Partial participation

Full participation

Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration

Victim-Centred Approach to Crime

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Victim input in RJ process design

Ability to stop or pause the process anytime

Choice of supporters in and outside of RJ:

Friends/family

RJV mentor

Victim services

Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration

Victim-Centred Approach to Crime

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Being victim-centred does not mean excluding or withholding resources/support from the offender

We provide mentors for victims and offenders

We identify and try to meet all parties’ needs, with the end goals of:

Healing

Accountability

Community safety

Supporting victims getting their needs (as they define them) met

Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration

Victim-Centred Approach to Crime

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Case study: assault

Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration

Victim-Centred Approach to Crime

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Victim-Centred Approach to Crime

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Being attentive to: Client feedback throughout the RJ process

Academic research and articles

Best practices, including language used with clients

Local victims’ issues

Community resources

Ethics, laws, and criminal justice policies

Victim-centred RJ projects (see our list here)

Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration

Victim-Centred Approach to Crime

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Being attentive to research on victims’ negative experiences of RJ, e.g.:

RJ practitioners ignoring or compromising RJ principles and values in relation to victims

Inadequate training of facilitators

Insufficient preparation of victims for dialogue

Pressure placed on victims to participate

Victims feeling unsafe during RJ sessions and/or feeling less safe after RJ session than before

Victims feeling re-victimized through their participation in an RJ process

Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration

Victim-Centred Approach to Crime

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Victim-sensitive standards

Contact Aaron Lyons at Community Justice Initiatives for more info: aaronlyons@cjibc.org

Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration

Partnership Guide Project

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In 2014, a Victims Services - Restorative Justice Symposium took place in Vancouver, BC

A summary report was published, including barriers to RJ-VS relationships and ideas for moving forward

RJV applied for civil forfeiture funding from the BC government to research RJ-VS relationships in BC and create a template MOU

Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration

The Guide: Contents

Introduction to RJV and the purpose of the guide

Overview of the current relationship between RJ and VS in BC

Recommendations, tools, and initiatives

A template for an MOU between a VS agency and RJ agency

Various resources

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The Guide: Research

How can restorative justice and victim services programs

formally work together to better meet the needs of victims?

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The Guide: Framework

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Operational realities of each program

The level of mutual understanding

Past experiences of joint collaborations

Next steps in establishing partnerships

Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration

Findings

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Findings

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Findings

Findings

1. Formal RJ & VS agencies have existed in BC for a similar # of years

2. Many RJ & VS agencies are already collaborating; some are even referring cases to each other

3. 94% of RJ respondents and 92% of VS respondents stated they are interested in creating a formal relationship

4. RJ respondents have a greater understanding of VS’ role and programs than VS respondents do of RJ’s

5. Respondents with collaboration experience were less likely to identify significant gaps in services for victims

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Barriers

1. Lack of communication / referrals between RJ/VS programs

2. Struggle to allocate adequate resources to support partnerships

3. Shortage of volunteers

4. Victims not always informed of the existence of RJ/VS programs

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Successes

1. Establishment of forums for dialogue between RJ/VS groups

2. VS agencies participating in RJ dialogue

3. Joint training and education

4. Greater communication = more referrals between programs

5. Overall greater capacity to support victims

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Recommendations1. Create more opportunities for shared spaces and conversations

between RJ and VS programs

2. Develop MOUs

3. Create a provincial body for RJ

4. Increase consistent funding for VS and RJ Programs

5. Increase support available to victims

6. Offer training to one another

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Ideas for Collaboration It’s okay to start small:

Visit each others’ offices and introduce yourselves

Offer informal workshops to each other about your programs and services

Share info on additional resources for victims

Consult with each other about difficult cases

Invite each other to, and attend, trainings in the community together, e.g., on trauma, victims issues, self-care, debriefing, etc.

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Ideas for Collaboration cont’d Conduct joint trainings/events for staff and volunteers,

e.g., identifying victim needs

Partner in community events and symposiums (e.g., National Victims and Survivors of Crime Week), fundraising events, grant applications, etc.

Current civil forfeiture grant in BC: “Serving Victims Through Restorative Justice: Building Program Accountability”

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Ideas for Collaboration cont’d

Offer in-kind donations (if available), e.g.:

Office/meeting space

Event/training advertising

Volunteer recruitment assistance

Letters of support

Promote each other’s agencies (e.g., keep brochures in your office, mention services to clients and community partners, communicate via social media, etc.)

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Ideas for Collaboration cont’d

Participate in each other’s programs in various capacities, e.g.:

VS can support victims throughout the RJ process, similar to court support programs

Sit on each others’ boards of directors/committees

Volunteer with each other short-term (e.g., projects, events, fundraisers, etc.), or long-term

Assisting with volunteer engagement during lulls

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Ideas for Collaboration cont’d

Schedule quarterly/annual meetings to discuss victims’ issues, resources, etc. (consider inviting police and other relevant agencies)

Refer clients to each other

Sign an MOU

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Recommended Resources: Victim-Centred RJ

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RJV’s Partnership Guide

Summary report of the 2014 RJ-VS symposium

Victim-sensitive standards

Webinar on RJ standards

VS and Crime Prevention’s Info Bulletin, featuring RJ

Police VS of BC’s “Insights” publication, featuring RJ

Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration

Additional Recommended Resources

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Canadian Victims Bill of Rights

RJV’s website

Manitoba’s Restorative Justice Act

“Walking the Talk” (ethics in RJ)

RJ fact sheet for victims

Alan Edwards and Jennifer Haslett’s publications

Allan Wade and colleagues at the Centre for Response-Based Practice

Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration

Questions?

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Connect With Us

Email Office@RJVictoria.com to chat further, or to sign up for our email list

Visit us at www.vrjs.org

Click here for a list of victim-centred RJ projects in BC

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