Restorative Justice Transforms Town: Recidivism Almost Disappears

In northern Alberta, a restorative justice program is making a big difference in a tight-knit community.

With just 68,000 residents, sending someone from Fort McMurray to jail or a juvenile detention center has a big impact. Therefore, a restorative justice program established for the city’s youth in 2022 has been expanded to include adults, and the results have been enormously positive.

Of the 115 participating offenders, only one has reoffended, demonstrating that personal responsibility combined with forgiveness works when punishment might not.

One case study is that of a young resident named Sam (not his real name) who felt irritated by a comment made by his brother, and in response attempted to attack him with a kitchen knife.

Fortunately, Sam’s brother disarmed him, while his mother called the police, who arrived and arrested the minor for aggravated assault. But instead of a conviction and a criminal record, he was offered a second chance through the restorative justice program.

To be part of the program, the offender must admit guilt, and the victim must agree to be present at that admission. While on the show, Sam got his driver’s license, got a job, and, if you can believe it, repaired his relationship with his brother so much that they still live together in the big logging town.

“It’s changed my view on how things could be done and how it really heals the community as a whole,” Nicole Chouinard, manager of victim services and restorative justice programs for the RCMP in the region, told CBC, admitting that she previously thought it was too “soft.”

RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AROUND THE WORLD:

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Mark Hancock, RCMP chief superintendent, pushed to expand the program to include his Wood Buffalo and Fort McMurray region after seeing its positive impact in Labrador.

“You have to face the person you have hurt, you have to hear how it affected them and how it affected their supporters as well,” added Hancock, who recounted that one man said it would be more difficult than just going to trial.

Data from Alberta’s program shows that restorative justice is effective in keeping people out of the criminal justice system, and there are now 21 organizations in 11 communities across the province that administer it.