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Programs

Restorative Justice Program

Restorative Justice represents a promising new practice, which provides a framework for understanding and responding to crime and victimization in society. Restorative Justice emphasizes the importance of elevating the role of crime victims and community members through more active involvement in the justice program by:

holding the offenders directly accountable to the people and communities they have harmed.
restoring the emotional and material losses of victims.
providing a range of opportunities for dialogue, negotiation, and problem solving, whenever possible which can all lead to greater community safety, social harmony, and peace for all involved.

Through a process of facilitated or meditated dialogue, restorative interventions have been found to provide many benefits to victims as they are able to receive information about the crime, express the impact of the crime and gain a greater sense of closure, including some form of restitution in many cases.

Our processes include:

Accountability Conferences
Group Accountability Conferences
Victim Offender Conferences
Community Conferences
Sentencing Circles
Reintegration/Healing Circles

Community Service Orders

The Community Service Order Program is set up to make available supervised work settings for youth who have to complete community service hours assigned by the Youth Courts.

Public Information And Awareness

Valley Restorative Justice staff are available to make presentations to community groups to disseminate information on the programs and services offered in this area.

Youth LifeSkills Program

Programs are designed to direct youth towards positive life choices. Funding for the Youth LifeSkills Program comes from the Law Foundation of Nova Scotia. Our services presently include:

Options to Anger Program - Anger Management

This program is offered in local schools by trained facilitators. The program consists of 8-10 one hour sessions using discussion and role play to identify options to anger in dealing with conflict. Options to anger helps youth to explore the underlying causes of their anger and emphasizes the importance of personal choices and control over their own lives.

Choices Drug Education & Awareness Program

Choices is a non-judgmental drug and alcohol education program that provides information to youth about the drugs they are using. This program provides tools and support for youth dealing with drug use. The program was developed as information based, given the understanding that the targeted population is often resistant to other forms of treatment.

Subjects Covered:

harmful involvement
stages of dependency
drug information
self esteem
peer pressure
parents and families
recovery and relapse
community supports

Positive Self Program

This program has been designed to address several issues that youth are faced with on a daily basis, and assist youth in building valuable life skills. This program consists of four sessions which include values, choices, self-esteem, peer pressure and friendship.

Stoplift - Shoplifting Program

Youth may be referred to Restorative Justice for Theft Under $5000.00 offences, where a corporate victim is involved. Through discussion the group develops skills to cope with pressures that cause youth to shoplift. The workshop runs 3.5 hours. The program may be offered in lieu of a Restorative Justice session, or as a term of a Restorative Justice agreement. This 3.5 hour workshop includes role-play, as well as presentations by local police officers and a corporate representative.

Victim Empathy Workshop

This program is designed to prepare youth referred to Restorative Justice to meet with the victim of their crime. The purpose of this workshop is to educate youth about the impact of their crime on their victim and to develop a greater sense of understanding or empathy for the victims' situation. Areas addressed in this workshop includes: defining empathy, victimization, victim offender mediation, and valuable communication skills. This workshop may be offered for both small groups and individuals. Referrals are made during an initial intake meeting with a Restorative Justice caseworker.

Justice Awareness

Justice Awareness is a new program that has been developed by Valley Restorative Justice. It is designed to educate youth on the Canadian Justice System and how it affects their lives. The program will be offered in local schools, as well as through referrals. This program consists of 3 one hour sessions. The program will address such issues as:

why we have laws
criminal records
youth court/adult court
restorative justice

Leisure Education Program

This program is available for referred youth, 12-15 years of age. The participants will learn about the value of leisure activities in a balanced life and will identify their own positive leisure interests. Youth will learn to overcome the barriers to participation in leisure activities and develop the skills and attitudes to help them make change in their personal lives. The manual for this program was developed by two Acadia University Recreation Management graduate students. Leisure Education Program was developed using grant funds from the Eastern Kings Memorial Health Foundation.

Off Highway Vehicle Workshop

This workshop is available for referred youth involved in offences under the Off-Highway Vehicle Act of Nova Scotia. Its purpose is to educate youth on the current Off-Highway Vehicle Act, to explore safety issues in the operation of off-highway vehicles, and to help youth understand who is impacted by use and misuse of all-terrain vehicles. Youth may also be referred for a Canada Safety Council Certified ATV Rider Safety Course.