Community Programs

( TONTAKAIÊ:RINE)
It Has Become Right Again

The Tyendinaga Justice Circle is a new Alternative to the current justice system, with a focus on youth ages 12-17 years of age. This group consists of community members who have taken the initiative to become involved. Not to be confused with the "Sentencing Circle", the forum brings together victims, offenders and their supporters in a safe, controlled environment "to discuss the offence and its effect and to jointly decide how to right the wrong that has been done".

Restorative Justice can be seen as a set of principles which guide agencies and practitioners rather than a particular practice. It offers alternative ways of thinking about crime by emphasizing the harm crime does to the community and how the community rather than the court system can respond to crime in more satisfactory ways. It may incorporate a variety of approaches, applied at various stages of the criminal justice process: pre-charge or post-charge.

Restorative Justice places an emphasis on all those involved in an offence - victims, offenders and the community - and seeks to reconcile, restore and repair relationships and situations.

• It is an alternative to the current Justice system. No "professional" individuals are involved in the process.
• It benefits the victim(s), the offender(s), their supporters and the community in which they live.
• Certified Community Volunteers facilitate the forum.

The Forums are often referred to as Community Justice Forums (CJF) or "Family Group Conferences".

Volunteers are trained and certified.

Program Contact(s)
For more information, contact:
Shannon Butcher, Co-Ordinator
Phone: 613-396-2122 or 800-267-0637 Ext. 166
Fax: 613-396-2761
Email: shannonb@fnti.net