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Community
Conference Model |
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revised: October
20, 2003 |
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1. |
Community
Conferencing Referral Requirement |
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1. |
Offences
referred include but are not limited to: theft, possession of stolen
property, fraud, causing a disturbance and mischief. |
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2. |
Offenders of
any age may be considered. Only those who admit to and accept
responsibility for the offence and show a willingness to repair the harm
will be considered suitable. |
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3. |
Most referrals
come from the RCMP to the Arrowsmith Community Justice Society (ACJS)
program coordinator, but some may come from Crown Counsel if deemed suitable
for the program. |
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2. |
The RCMP
Investigating Officer Protocol |
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- Attends the
complaint
- Gathers
evidence
- Seeks victim
approval for going to the ACJS Program
- Meets the
offender and/or parents to explain the restorative justice process vs. the
court system and leaves a participation form to be completed and returned
- Forwards
detailed referral report to the ACJS program coordinator
- Attends the
community conference when requested.
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3. |
The
Referral Process |
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1. |
The RCMP
investigate an incident. The offender(s) admit responsibility and agree to
the community conference process. The investigating officer sends to the
ACJS program coordinator the incident file and makes arrangements for the
signed "Agreement to Participate" form to be returned. |
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2. |
The ACJS
program coordinator takes responsibility for action. |
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4. |
The
Community Conference Process: |
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1. |
The coordinator
identifies a team of trained volunteers. This team determines roles and
responsibilities to best meet the needs of those involved. A volunteer is
designated to liaise with the coordinator. The conference team organizes
the community conference. |
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a) |
Pre-Conference |
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Designated
member(s) |
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(i) |
Contact the
victim to arrange a pre-conference meeting at which they: |
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 | review the conferencing
process |
| hear the victim's recitation
of the incident |
| encourage the victim to
participate in the conference along with appropriate support (e.g.
parents, relatives, close friend(s), etc) |
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(ii) |
Contact the
offender to arrange a pre-conference meeting at which they: |
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| review the conferencing
process |
| hear the offender's recitation
of the incident |
| remind the offender that (s)he
may leave at any time but should (s)he decide to depart, the matter will
be returned to the referral agent. |
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(iii) |
In cases, where
the presence of the referral agent is requested, receive the officer's
schedule of availability to attend the conference from the program
coordinator. |
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(iv) |
In consultation
with the ACJS program coordinator and all participants, determine what
community members, if any, should be invited to attend the conference.
Person(s) agreed upon receive an invitation. |
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(v) |
Notify all
participants of the conference date/time/place. |
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b) |
Community
Conference |
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(i) |
The community
conference, facilitated by the designated member(s), evolves approximately
as follows: |
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| Prepare seating plan prior to
the conference |
| Introduce participants and
review the process, |
| The offender is asked to
describe the incident including relevant circumstances |
| In turn, the victim(s) (and
supporters), community members, the offender(s) (and supporters), the RCMP
officer, etc are asked to describe the incident and how it affected them.
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| When all participants have had
a chance to speak, the facilitator(s) initiate the discussion that leads
to the resolution agreement. |
| When agreement is reached, the
facilitator(s) restates the agreement for clarification and confirmation
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| The facilitator(s) brings
closure to the conference which includes the opportunity for any last
words and an invitation to all involved to stay behind for refreshments.
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| A resolutiion Agreement is
completed at the conference and signed by, and distributed to, the
appropriate parties. |
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c) |
Post-Conference |
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(i) |
Team member(s)
are designated to follow up with participants after the conference |
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(ii) |
Designated team
member(s) |
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| Act as a positive role model
for the offender |
| Liaise with victim and other
participants as deemed appropriate |
| Maintain contact with the
offender at least through the completion of the "Resolution Agreement"
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| When requested make the
offender aware of appropriate community resources |
| Report to the coordinator at
completion of the resolution. |
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