Restorative Justice Project

Restorative justice encourages responsibility, reparation, and healing for all stakeholders in a respectful, safe, and supportive environment. The goals of restorative justice are:

• Focus on the harms and consequent needs of the victims, as well as the communities and the offenders.
• Address the obligations that result from those harms.
• Use inclusive collaborative processes.
• Involve those with legitimate state in the situation.
• Seek to right the wrongs.

(Howard Zehr, The Little Book of Restorative Justice, 2002)

A student who receives an SOT for underage drinking or public intoxication must visit the Student Dispute Resolution office within five business days of being ticketed, to be considered for the Restorative Justice Project. Once at the office, the student will be confirmed for eligibility in the program and scheduled for an intake appointment. (Please note that open alcohol tickets are no longer eligible for this program.)

If charged with a criminal offence, a student may be referred to the Project by the Halifax Regional Police or the Crown Attorney’s office. The student must accept full responsibility for their actions and be considered an appropriate candidate by the referral source.

Eligibility:

• At least 18 years of age or older
• Registered Dalhousie student
• Accept full responsibility for offence
• Recommended by the Crown or Halifax Regional Police
• Certain Level 1 and Level 2 criminal offences (at the discretion of the Crown and HRP), Summary Liquor Act violations (underage drinking and public intoxication) and Protection of Property Act violations only
• Agree to the terms of the program and agree to full participation

If you have questions about your eligibility, please email restorativejustice@dal.ca from your Dalhousie email account and include your student Banner number (B00 number) and offences you have been charged with. You can expect a reply in three business days.

Note: Students can be removed from the program at any time based on the discretion of the case manager. Some examples would be: not meeting timelines, disrespecting the process and principles, or not accepting responsibility for their actions.

After review by a case manager, a restorative plan will be started in consultation with those involved in the incident. Often the plan includes an accountability session, which could include one of the following formats:

• Circle or conferencing (session involving all stakeholders, including the offender and those harmed or affected)
• Creation of a Restorative Agreement with the case manager
• Group training/education sessions

This process will result in a restorative agreement agreed upon and signed by everyone involved. It will include timelines and actions that the participants feel will help restore the harm done, and help restore the student back into the community. The range of restorative measures can include, but are not limited to:

• community service
• restitution/financial compensation
• education programs
• no further intervention
• letters of apology
• referral for counselling/treatment assessment

If the student successfully completes the restorative process, their ticket or offence will be removed from the judicial system.

If the student does not complete the restorative agreement or is removed from the process, then the ticket is re-issued and a court date will be set for criminal matters.

The people identified as affected by a student's actions will be contacted directly by the case manager. At that time, a full explanation and an opportunity for questions will take place. Participation is completely voluntary, however the affected party will be invited to participate.

You are encouraged to bring a support person but if you don't wish to participate, a spokesperson may represent you at the table.