Mayors join finance minister to discuss, share feedback on landmark tax

B.C. supports organizations to strengthen restorative justice services

March 22, 2024 at 10:46 am  BC, News, Politics, Provincial

British Columbia is taking action to achieve better outcomes for victims of crime and offenders by supporting restorative justice initiatives throughout the province.

“Restorative justice helps victims and offenders heal from harms they’ve experienced and caused, helping to improve public safety and strengthen communities,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “I am pleased to support the vital work of these organizations in delivering restorative justice services to people throughout British Columbia.”

Restorative justice approaches address the needs of victims and the community when they experience a crime, while holding offenders accountable for the harm they have caused. By empowering victims and the community to have a voice in the outcome through a collaborative experience of justice, these initiatives pave the way for meaningful reconciliation and healing.

“Empowering people to take accountability for their crimes allows them to address the underlying causes of harm,” said Niki Sharma, Attorney General. “By investing in restorative justice programs that promote healing and reconciliation, we can help reduce the cycle of incarceration and build a more fair and equitable justice system for people and communities in B.C.”

Through the Law Foundation of BC, the Province has provided $3 million, which will be allocated to several organizations throughout B.C. In selecting the organizations, extensive engagement with stakeholders was conducted to identify priorities and maximize impacts in the community.

Larger umbrella organizations will receive funding to enhance their capacity to support their members, develop and provide training on restorative practices and anti-racism, implement their strategic plans and host events, such as the annual Provincial Restorative Justice Symposium and the 2025 Indigenous Justice Program gathering. Regionally based organizations will receive funding to enhance their capacity and support other smaller organizations in their areas. Some of the funding will also be used to hire specialized workers and fund projects in some communities.

“Restorative justice processes can help provide access to justice and provide healing in communities,” said Josh Patterson, executive director of the Law Foundation of British Columbia. “They help people who have been harmed, and help those who are responsible for the harm, to understand the impacts their actions had on others and take positive action to redress that hurt. The Law Foundation is pleased to work with the Province to help fund the enhancement and expansion of these programs.”

The organizations receiving funding:

  • Restorative Justice Victoria
  • North Shore Restorative Justice Society
  • Abbotsford Restorative Justice and Advocacy Association
  • Okanagan Boys and Girls Club
  • BC First Nations Justice Council: Prince George
  • Restorative Collective
  • Restorative Justice Association of BC (RJABC)
  • Indigenous Justice Association (IJA)

Learn More:

For more information about the Law Foundation of British Columbia, visit: https://www.lawfoundationbc.org/

For more information about the Indigenous Justice Association, visit: https://indigenousjustice.ca/

For more information about the Restorative Justice Association of British Columbia, visit: https://rjabc.ca/

View the full article from the original source

No conversations yet

Activity Stream

Sat, Nov 2, 2024 at 9:00 am - Doug Smith posted on their blog: Across Greenstone Mountain – KamloopsTrails
Thu, Oct 31, 2024 at 8:00 am - David Suzuki posted on their blog: Nature-directed stewardship is good for cities and living things
Tue, Oct 29, 2024 at 3:32 pm - Darryl Schmidt posted on their blog: Is the BC NDP Ignoring the Interior?
Tue, Oct 29, 2024 at 9:00 am - Doug Smith posted on their blog: Lower Rose Trails – KamloopsTrails
Fri, Oct 25, 2024 at 12:36 pm - Darryl Schmidt posted on their blog: Is Privatization the Best Path Forward?
Fri, Oct 25, 2024 at 9:00 am - Doug Smith posted on their blog: A Hidden Homesteads Hike – KamloopsTrails
Thu, Oct 24, 2024 at 8:00 am - David Suzuki posted on their blog: War and climate change fuel a survival-threatening cycle
Mon, Oct 21, 2024 at 9:00 am - Doug Smith posted on their blog: Zoa Peak Hike – KamloopsTrails
Thu, Oct 17, 2024 at 9:00 am - Doug Smith posted on their blog: Sugarloaf (Lundbom) Hike – KamloopsTrails
Thu, Oct 17, 2024 at 8:00 am - David Suzuki posted on their blog: Politicians pour fuel on an overheating planet
Full Stream