Rural Red Deer Restorative Justice

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Red Deer Rural Restorative Justice is a community-based alternative to the traditional justice system.  Trained volunteers facilitating Restorative Justice Processes bring together the person(s) harmed, the wrong doer, their families, supporters, and/or the community for a discussion about the incident and how it can be repaired.

The restorative justice process will not be successful every time, for every person, or every situation and it is not an option for everyone. It is a choice.  Each individual who chooses the restorative path is making a positive choice.  It is a choice of accountability, a choice to make things right, a choice to accept help from others so that they can overcome or address the challenges that led them to this place in their life.  Each positive choice leads to another, and the result is cumulative. We applaud those who choose restorative justice, accept accountability for their actions and follow through on their commitments.

Our services are free, and available to anyone in the Central Alberta area.

What is the difference between traditional (retributive) justice, restorative justice, and youth justice?

Traditional justice, restorative justice, and youth justice are three distinct approaches to dealing with criminal behavior and resolving conflicts within societies. Each approach has its own principles, goals, and methods. Here’s an overview of each:

1. Traditional Justice: Traditional justice, also known as retributive justice, is centered around punishment and the enforcement of laws. Its primary goal is to hold offenders accountable for their actions and to deter future criminal behavior through punitive measures such as incarceration, fines, or other forms of punishment. In this system, the focus is on the state as the primary victim, and the emphasis is on determining guilt or innocence and administering appropriate punishment according to established laws and legal procedures. Traditional justice tends to be adversarial, with prosecutors representing the state and defense attorneys representing the accused.
2. Restorative Justice: Restorative justice is a more holistic approach that focuses on repairing the harm caused by criminal behavior and addressing the needs of all parties involved – victims, offenders, and communities. It seeks to promote healing, reconciliation, and accountability by bringing together those affected by a crime to discuss the impact of the offense, identify needs, and develop solutions that aim to restore relationships and prevent future harm. Restorative justice processes can include mediation, victim-offender dialogues, community conferencing, and restitution. The emphasis is on repairing the harm rather than solely punishing the offender, with the goal of promoting greater understanding, empathy, and community involvement in the justice process.
3. Youth Justice: Youth justice specifically pertains to the legal systems and approaches used for addressing the needs of young people who have committed offenses. It recognizes that young offenders have distinct developmental needs and that traditional punitive measures may not be the most effective or appropriate way to address their behavior. Youth justice systems often focus on rehabilitation, education, and intervention rather than strict punishment, with an emphasis on providing support, guidance, and opportunities for young people to address the underlying issues contributing to their offending behavior. These systems may incorporate elements of both traditional and restorative justice approaches, tailored to meet the unique needs of young offenders.

In summary, while traditional justice emphasizes punishment and enforcement of laws, restorative justice focuses on repairing harm and restoring relationships, and youth justice seeks to address the specific needs of young offenders through rehabilitation and intervention. Each approach has its own strengths and weaknesses, and the most effective justice systems often incorporate elements of all three approaches depending on the nature of the offense and the needs of those involved.

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Expected Outcomes

Short Term outcomes include: offender accountability, repaired harms, repaired relationships, victim satisfaction, identification of underlying issues, support to move forward

Long Term outcomes include: reduction in recidivism, lowered crime rates, optimized court use, cost effective justice system, individuals feel safe and connected to their communities

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Want to Know More?

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Who Can Refer?

Police Referrals: The Rural Red Deer Restorative Justice program is available to wrong doers (youth and adult) and those they have harmed, who reside in or who are served by Blackfalds RCMP K division , Lacombe Police Service, Bashaw, Rimbey, Sylvan Lake and other Central Alberta RCMP detachment areas as a means of diversion from the criminal justice system.

The Alberta Crown Prosecutors Office: People who are harmed, or people who have caused harm may request Restorative Justice through the Crown, or their legal representation. Cases may be referred at various phases in the criminal justice process including: diversion/pre-charge, post charge- pre-conviction.

Community Members: Community members can access restorative justice if there is a continued conflict that they believe could be resolved through the restorative process.

School Referrals: Local school principals, counsellors, or SROs may refer for those incidents where it is felt that harms caused / received by students would benefit from a reparative and restorative approach

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Help Us Build Safer Communities

Increase Community Awareness- Request a Presentation!

Help members of your community, school, business or program to understand the benefits, principles and processes involved in restorative justice as an alternative to the traditional justice system by requesting an RRDRJ facilitated presentation. Just email ED@rrdrestorativejustice.ca to make a request.

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Red Deer Polytechnic- Class of 2023 Justice Studies Student Society

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If you are interested in supporting the Rural Red Deer Restorative Justice Program, in any way- please contact the Executive Director Jo Phillips: ED@rrdrestorativejustice.ca

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