Restorative Justice Week 2009

RESTORATIVE JUSTICE WEEK 2009: From November 15 th to 22 rd the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) in collaboration with the Church Council on Justice and Corrections (CCJC) call Canada and the world to awareness and celebration of Restorative Justice at all levels of personal, systemic and national relationships.

The aftermath of a crime often leaves us with a sense of abandonment, hurt, anger, sadness, guilt, and many indescribable feelings of anguish and solitude. We need to ask ourselves, not only how to prevent this kind of wrong-doing but how we can come together as a community and meet with each other to repair and restore what has been broken and lost. When we come together as a community and explore alternative models of justice and peacemaking, we are taking action and taking care of one another. We must work together to improve neighborhood livability.

Values and principles like safety, healing, restoring, inclusion, attentiveness, love and respect all guide us on how to respond to human needs within our community. Restorative justice can't work if the community does not build bridges between its valuable citizens. Our goal should be to create healthy relationships between individuals, organizations, institutions and even between nations.

Victims and offenders are often left to fend for themselves at a time when a whole community could come together and help determine how to achieve a positive outcome for all. We are all responsible when it comes to the healing experience for those harmed and those involved.

This year's theme Communities Responding to Human Needs , invites individuals and faith communities to use resources for worship services or group discussions to facilitate a deeper and broader understanding of restorative justice. The material includes information about restorative processes, and how restorative justice offers potential avenues to heal the harm that has been done to people and relationships.

To access Communities Responding to Human Needs restorative justice resources, go to www.ccjc.ca/restorative_justice.html 2009 materials will be available online in July 2009. You may also order hard copies from The Church Council on Justice and Corrections (CCJC) at a very low cost. Please contact us for more information: 613 563-1688 x4.