Coverdale Restorative Justice

Restorative Justice takes a relational approach in response to crime. When the law is broken, a restorative approach considers the impact on the people and their relationships at interpersonal, social, and institutional levels. Restorative justice is aimed at understanding and addressing the harms and needs of those affected by crime with an aim to support just relations in future.

Restorative justice processes bring together those with a stake in the outcome of a situation—those who have been affected, those with responsibility for what happened, and those who can support a good outcome.

Source: Nova Scotia Restorative Justice Protocols

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Goals of Coverdale Restorative Justice

Address Needs

Respond to needs of individuals and communities affected by crime:

with particular attention to the needs of victims and those harmed by crime

(individuals and communities).

Harm Reduction

Reduce cycle of harm and injustice, prevent further harms to vulnerable individuals and communities and reduce over-representation of marginalized individuals in the justice system.

Support

Support individual and collective taking of responsibility for harm and

public safety. Increase access to justice to build more effective, timely, inclusive, equitable justice system.

Service

Provide responsive, human-centered justice processes that consider

root causes and seek meaningful outcomes and responses. Increase public confidence and accountability in the administration of justice.

When can Restorative Justice be used?

Cases can be referred at several points in the criminal justice process before there is a criminal charge, before a conviction, or after a conviction. Referrals can be made by the police, the Crown, the judiciary, corrections officials, and victim-serving agencies.

This restorative response shifts away from "shame and blame" and instead focuses on addressing harms and their root causes to prevent them from happening again.
Restorative Justice is ultimately aimed at making and supporting plans for the future that uphold safe and healthy relationships and communities.

Restorative processes generally result in plans aimed at addressing the issues, harms, and impacts, and moving forward in a better way.