Restorative Justice returning to FSJ
Another long-lost crime mitigation program is returning to Fort St. John.
Like Citizens on Patrol, the Restorative Justice program was one of several initiatives developed in the community during the 1990s. These initiatives allowed Fort St. John and area residents to be proactive in reducing crime by providing tools to help the RCMP. While Citizens on Patrol members observe and report on crime in progress, Restorative Justice programs aim to help victims of crime get restitution, while reducing the number of repeat offenders.
The earlier program, which ran from 1997 under the banner of the North Peace Justice Society, ceased operations in 2021 when it became critically short-staffed and wasn’t receiving enough files. Now a new organization, Peace River Justice, is looking to fill the void.
“The need for restorative justice in Fort St. John is a big one that needs to be contended with,” said Thor Skafte, Senior Restorative Justice mentor. “The RCMP is fully onside. We have a fully qualified teaching staff in our executive director, Jabala Sjodin. She’s a well-trained restorative justice person and is also First Nations. She’s worked with the RCMP throughout the southern BC and has presented some great work. We look forward to getting the program revitalized here in Fort St. John.”
The new program is “an Indigenous Entity whose focus has been on developing Tribal Justice Strategies and assisting communities to develop Restorative Justice Programs,” according to materials presented to Fort St. John city council on Monday. It will make use of tools such as Healing and Support Circles, Restitution Circles to address crimes, and recidivations programs for criminals that will reduce re-offending.
“If you allow the community to assist in the restorative justice progress and allow them to heal in a way they believe in, this enables members to reduce harm in their communities,” said William Mazanek, Restorative Program Coordinator and Co-facilitator. “The court system is not community-based or focussed on reducing harm in their areas. They have the belief that punishment, in the form of jail time, is a sufficient deterrent for crime.”
Allowing the victim and the offender to find a solution to the problem, in a circle of their peers, directly involves them in the outcome. Through a Memorandum of Understanding, the parties set out tasks that must be completed to achieve restitution. By keeping the offender on task, the agreement lowers the risk of re-offending, Mazanek explained.
By using circles to work through the problem, restorative justice offers a meaningful change to the community, as they can see the change. It also honours the tribal-based approaches.
“It’s a collaborative interest space to the resolution, and getting to the bottom of the problem,” said Mazanek. “It’s a safe place to facilitate these difficult decisions and discussions that have to happen whenever crime has happened.”
Mazanek said the RCMP had expressed an interest several months ago in getting involved with a restorative justice program again. As the files which are likely to benefit from a restorative justice process are referred by the RCMP, their desire to participate is key to the success of the program.
A wide range of crimes can be referred to the program, rather than simply mischief or minor offences.
“The restorative justice has done things up into drunk driving causing death. They are pretty serious crimes.”
The next steps for starting up the program are obtaining an office space, finalizing the organizational structure, and securing funding. Peace River Justice is looking at a space in the Community Bridge building, which Mazanek says is ideal. Co-incidentally, that is the location that the North Peace Justice Society called home.