Community Group Conference

A facilitated dialogue for those impacted by crime and conflict.

Participants will:

Witness the responsible person(s) take responsibility for causing harm.
Hear from each other about who was affected by the crime/conflict and how.
Work together to determine what the responsible person(s) will do to make things right.
Agree by consensus on a contract that the responsible person(s) will complete to repair the harms caused by their actions.

A confidential restorative justice model attended by two trained facilitators, the person(s) responsible for causing harm, the harmed parties, community member volunteers and a police officer.
The conference typically lasts two hours and is carried out in the following stages:
- Introductions
- Responsible person(s) shares their side of the story
- Harmed person(s) share their side of the story
- Community members and police officers share how the harmful actions affect the community
- Brainstorming actions the responsible person can take to repair the harm they caused
- Agreeing to final contract
- Closing

The program aims to:

give those involved in crime or conflict an opportunity to work together to determine the best way to make things right.
provide an opportunity for healing.
ensure that everyone involved feels heard and respected.

This model is based on the evidence based practice of restorative justice.