Success Stories

CJP strives to bridge the gap between victims and offenders to facilitate understanding, accountability, forgiveness, acceptance and reparation.

Neighbourhood Vandalism

One night, a group of very intoxicated young men terrorized a neighbourhood by throwing rocks through windows, dropping boulders on cars, spray painting vulgar and racist messages on garage doors, play structures and park benches. Naturally, many families were frightened and outraged by what happened in this otherwise peaceful, safe neighbourhood. The young men charged with these offences felt terrible about their actions and committed to making things right with the people they had harmed. Through facilitated communication, each of the victims participating chose to hold the boys accountable in different ways. This included asking for and receiving explanations, letters of apology, financial compensation and the boys also completed volunteer work. CJP presented at a town hall meeting to update the broader community regarding what had been done to address the harm and to assuage any lingering fears. Everyone involved felt much better as a result of their participation and were grateful for the opportunity.

Assault with a Weapon Case

I was involved in an unfortunate incident months ago which resulted in criminal charges brought against me. I’m a middle age professional, hardworking, responsible, family oriented, and engaged in the community that has never been involved in disputes like that, let alone with the police.

Out of frustration of experiencing the same noise situation for the last 7 years, I made a mistake when I let my anger control my actions. After this happened, a new chapter started in my life. First came the extreme worry for the well-being of 2 individuals that suffered because of what I did, and then, the feeling that ‘everything was over for me’, a mix of shame, regret, and lack of hope.

Soon after the incident I contacted a lawyer to represent me. I was in good hands but felt that only the ‘legal’ side of things was being taken care of, not the ‘human side’ of the situation: the side that included all affected by the incident.

Fortunately, eventually I got involved with the Collaborative Justice Program. Actually I think the word ‘fortunately’ can not really express I mean...getting involved with the Program has really made a big difference in my life and I believe in the lives of the other people involved. The restorative approach was really effective; in my case it provided me the opportunity to apologise to victims (in writing) and ask them what I could do to help them. It led me to seek assistance in addressing and learning techniques to manage anger. And it helped me to be a more compassionate person overall.

I am writing on behalf of myself, my husband and our children. The purpose of this letter is to state, for the record, how very impressed we are with the Collaborative Justice Project and with the two staff we’ve had contact with in the course of our involvement.

We became aware of the program after we received a letter from you informing us of the opportunity to participate because we had been the victims of a robbery.

Everything about the process, the initial meeting with you and our family, the ongoing communication, the meeting with the accused, and the subsequent updates from you has been excellent.

The biggest benefit, of course, is that as a family we have received understanding, support, the chance to process the effect of the crime on our lives, and,

ultimately, the opportunity to meet with the accused and say and hear what needed to be said and heard.

This is an experience of closure to the episode that the traditional criminal process does not offer. We believe that the benefits are tremendously significant – to us and to the perpetrator – and more broadly and perhaps more importantly, to our community and society.

We wish to state our unqualified support for continued funding for this most valuable program. We would be happy and eager to do anything we can to promote ongoing funding for the Collaborative Justice Project.

My apologies for the delay in writing, but hopefully you subscribe to the theory that it is better late than never.

I wish to thank you for involving me in the Collaborative Justice Project. Its emphasis on the restorative aspects of justice offers a marked and positive contrast to the generally negative experience provided by the criminal justice system for the parties involved.

The criminal process is adversarial by design and, thereby, actively discourages communication being established between the victims and the perpetrators of crime. There is no attempt at ‘bridge-building’ or otherwise helping the parties to work together to mitigate the damage suffered. It is the State pitted against an accused and, consequently, with such a perceived imbalance, there is a focus on the needs and preservation of the rights of the accused.

The system, as it currently exists, offers little opportunity for the voice of the victim to be heard. This can have the effect of making the victim feel marginalized and exacerbate the sense of injury.

I believe the importance of victims being given an opportunity to explain their feelings and position, directly and indirectly, to the person responsible for the harm done to them is inadequately understood. In my experience, victims have an overwhelming need to know that the person responsible for their suffering understands the nature and extent of what has been inflicted on them. They need to see some comprehension by the perpetrator of the degree and scope of the harm done. For many, recognition and an indication of remorse are far more important than punishment. Being able to communicate in such a fashion undoubtedly can speed and facilitate the healing process and, thereby, reduce the overall harm suffered.

Break and Enter, Possession of Credit Cards, Theft

Daniel became involved with the Project after he was charged with 16 counts involving a number of Break and Enters, Possession of Property Under, Theft Under, Possession/Use of Credit Card, Loiter at Night on Other Person's Property and Fail to Comply! Daniel a long history of being involved in this kind of thing so upon arrest he was sent to a closed custody facility prior to sentencing.

The Crown's initial position was for 10 months closed custody, followed by two months open custody, followed by Probation. All of this would be on top of any time already served.

The caseworker met with Daniel and began the process of exploring the causes and consequences of his behaviour. Daniel seemed to take responsibility and was remorseful. Apparently all of the charges stemmed from one evening when he became very intoxicated at a school dance. On his way home from the dance he decided to break into some houses. Being very drunk, it didn't take long for the police to catch up with him, still with the property on his person.

The victims in the case were contacted by the caseworker and then met with each of them to discuss the impact this event has had on their lives. Two asked for a letter of apology from Daniel.