Why the Prairie Mountain Community Justice program is important to our community
The Prairie Mountain Community Justice committee is composed of volunteers from the community and typically will be responsible for cases that happen in their communities and/or involve offenders/victims that live in the area the committee represents. They facilitate the meeting with the victim and the accused, and represent their community.
Our boundaries include the Municipality of Russell Binscarth, Riding Mountain West, Roblin, Rossburn, Ellice-Archie as well Gambler and Tootinaowaziibeeng (Valley River) First Nations.
PURPOSE:
- provide a forum for the education, reconciliation and disposition of the young person as well as adults within the community.
- provide the community with information, education, and the opportunity for community input on extrajudicial sanctions and adult alternative measures including crime prevention.
- provide the victims with a forum for restorative justice approaches to include the opportunity for reconciliation, reparation and closure for victims of crime against them or their property.
- will address the circumstances underlying young person’s/adult’s offending behaviour, ensuring meaningful consequence and rehabilitating and reintegrating them into society.
- will accept case referrals from Probation, Schools, Court, Crown and Police to the committee. All youth and adult referrals will be tracked and recorded by the Westman Mediation Services.
- will promote community awareness of the Community Justice Committee’s activities and involvement in the community and address justice issues that face their community by means of public education (i.e. the schools, public forums, presentations, etc.).
- will work and assist organizations to promote crime prevention in the community (i.e. development of promotional materials, presentations, and public forums).
- will work in partnership with other judicial officials and community organizations.
- will ensure that the young person/adult is assigned to work for the victim or a non profit community organization and will be monitored by the Committee or committee member(s) until all community work has been completed.
- will ensure the youth/adult is accountable and responsible for his actions/behaviour and to repair the harm he/she has caused. The Committee will assist young persons/adults to lead constructive and responsible lives within the community.
PRINCIPLES:
- OFFENDER, VICTIM, AND COMMUNITY BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS OF JUSTICE, OR RESOLUTION OF THE HARM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
- RESTORATIVE PROCESSES WILL OCCUR WITH THE VOLUNTARY CONSENT OF THE VICTIM AND OFFENDER, IF THEY CHOOSE TO BE INVOLVED.
- THE OFFENDER ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE INCIDENT AND UNDERSTANDS THE HARM
- REPAIRING THE HARM IS A CENTRAL CONCERN (WHAT LAWS HAVE BEEN BROKEN IS LESS IMPORTANT THAN HOW PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HARMED)
- ALL PARTIES AGREE TO THE ESSENTIAL FACTS OF THE INCIDENT
- DISCUSSIONS WILL REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL
- ALL AGREEMENTS WILL BE VOLUNTARY
The Prairie Mountain Community Justice Committee will provide a restorative community-based alternative to the formal justice system including building relationships within the community.