Editor's Note: Changed to include contact information.
There is an alternative to the court system in Grand Forks and other cities that provides a more healing-oriented option for offenders and victims of crime.
The Boundary Restorative Justice Program has been in operation since 2002. It is a community-based justice process based on a First Nations healing circle but isn’t a replacement for the justice system.
Richard Tarnoff, co-ordinator of the Boundary program, says the program works with local RCMP and other community organizations and emphasizes repairing the harm caused by (the) conflict and crime rather than only punishing the offender.
He says that a restorative justice forum is often used for first-time offenders but can be used for any situation where people have been harmed.
While some might view this as an easy way out for the offender, Tarnoff disagrees.
“Actually, in a lot of cases it’s more difficult, because the offender actually has to sit down and talk to the person that (he or she) has harmed and hear how what (they) did affected the (victims). It’s then up to the victim to decide what the consequences are and what the restitution should be,” explains Tarnoff. “It enables the victim to not only communicate how they’ve been harmed but also how to have the damage repaired.”
Tarnoff says that even if the offender goes to court and prison, the victim usually doesn’t receive restitution for the damage they have suffered or a way of moving past their feelings of anger and victimization. The offender, who often pleads not guilty, hasn’t had to take responsibility, make amends or been given a way to be accepted back into the community.
While the RCMP does forward cases, not every case is suitable for a restorative justice forum, however, as there must be conditions that are met. The offender has to have the desire to make amends and the victim has to be willing to participate in the process.
“Certainly no sexual offenses and certainly we’re not going to recommend murder charges. It’s really a big wide-open field and what we do is look at each individual case on its own merit, Grand Forks RCMP Staff Sgt. Jim Harrison says. “We also look at the persons involved, first off, to determine whether or not the offender is an appropriate person for that type of recommendation.”
Members of the restorative justice program meet separately with the parties involved – offender, victim, family members and people who have been affected – and then a face-to-face forum is arranged.
Tarnoff says that during the forum everyone is able to describe what happened and how they’ve been affected; an agreement on how best to repair the damage done is discussed and agreed upon and a mentor is provided to assist the offender with any problems that arise.
“Once the offender completes the agreement, the case is closed and the offender has no criminal record as a result of the incident,” Tarnoff says, although failure to complete the agreement could still result in criminal charges.
The Boundary Restorative Justice Program is seeking volunteers and Tarnoff says that there are a number of ways people can assist the program.
“We certainly want to get as many people in the community as possible involved both as supporters and, if they have the time and interest, to take the training to become facilitators and mentors,” he said, adding that the program will be offering three-day training workshops in July.
Restorative justice-type forums are also being used for environmental infractions by industries and last year, there was one involving Fox Forest Products, the former owners of the mill in Midway regarding a disturbance done to a riparian zone along the Kettle River in Midway.
In that case, Fox Forest Products donated $10,000 to the Granby Wilderness Society to rehabilitate and improve the riparian zones along the river.
Call 250-442-8633 or email boundaryrjp@gmail.com for more information.