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
5
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
6
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
7
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
8Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration
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
9Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration
Benefits of VS-RJ Partnerships
10
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
11
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
12
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
13
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
14
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
15
Case study: assault
Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration
Victim-Centred Approach to Crime
16Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration
Victim-Centred Approach to Crime
17
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
18
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
19
Victim-sensitive standards
Contact Aaron Lyons at Community Justice Initiatives for more info: [email protected]
Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration
Partnership Guide Project
20
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
21Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration
The Guide: Research
How can restorative justice and victim services programs
formally work together to better meet the needs of victims?
22Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration
The Guide: Framework
23
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
24Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration
25Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration
Findings
26Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration
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
27Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration
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
28Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration
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
29Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration
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
30Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration
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.
31Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration
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”
32Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration
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.)
33Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration
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
34Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration
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
35Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration
Recommended Resources: Victim-Centred RJ
36
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
37
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?
38Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration
Connect With Us
Email [email protected] 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
39Meeting the Needs of Victims and Survivors In Restorative Justice Processes Through Capacity-building and Collaboration
Top Related