An Adult Post-Charge Victim Offender Reconciliation Program and the Involvement of Victims in Victim-Offender Reconciliation

Restorative justice theory proposes that victims are essential to the process of resolving crime. Participation in restorative justice processes can permit victims and survivors of crime the opportunity to gain information, share about the impact the crime has had on them, identify their needs and have a say in decisions that are made to address the harm. Victims that participate in restorative justice processes report high levels of satisfaction. In addition, restorative justice processes can contribute to a victim’s healing.

To commemorate National Restorative Justice Week, the Policy Centre for Victim Issues, Justice Canada is hosting a WebEx on restorative justice. If you are interested in learning more about supporting the involvement of victims in restorative justice processes or about the use of restorative justice processes in post-charge cases involving adults, please join us on Thursday, November 22, 2018 between  1:00pm-2:30pm Eastern Standard Time (EST)for a presentation by Mr. Chris Cowie as he shares about the Victim Offender Reconciliation Program, a program offered by Community Justice Initiatives, Waterloo Region. Chris will share about the principles and promising practices that guide the organization and its facilitators in engaging and supporting victims in restorative justice processes. He will also share about evaluation results and the benefits that victims have experienced.

Presenter

Chris Cowie is an expert in restorative justice and has provided training on restorative justice in many countries and for many groups of stakeholders. He has also taught a variety of courses at both the University of Waterloo and at Conestoga College. In 1989, while working with young offenders at another agency, Chris collaborated with Community Justice Initiatives to develop a Victim Offender Reconciliation Program. Witnessing the power of restorative justice, he became a strong proponent of using restorative practices in response to many kinds of crime and conflict. He is currently the Executive Director of Community Justice Initiatives, Waterloo Region.

Intended Audience

Restorative justice practitioners; coordinators of restorative justice agencies; victim services workers; policy and program analysts, and criminal justice professionals.

Logistical Information

Registration
Pre-registration is required – to register, please email the Policy Centre for Victim Issues at pcvi-cpcv@justice.gc.ca. You can also register by phone by calling  613-952-3629.

Participation (by WebEx only)  • This event will be broadcast live but will not be accessible afterwards.  • A reminder email will be sent to registrants two days before the WebEx, and then again early in the morning on the day of the WebEx. These emails will include a link to access the WebEx. • The presentation will be delivered in English with simultaneous interpretation in French. Questions are welcome in both official languages. Please inform PCVI of your language preference when you register.

Need more information? Questions about the WebEx may be directed to the Policy Centre for Victim Issues (pcvi-cpcv@justice.gc.ca) or 613-952-3629.