Community Accountability Programs Information ... - Ministry of Justice

Dawson Creek Community Justice ProgramContact InformationNCO i/c Dawson Creek Detachment1230 102 nd AvenueDawson Creek, BCV1G 4V3Phone: (250) 784-3700Fax: (250) 784-3721E-mail: N/AProgram InformationStructure of program:Target Group:Goals and Objectives:Program Model:Referral Source(s):Support/ Funding:Staffing Structure:Volunteers Involved:Years in Operation: 4Partners Involved:Runs under the detachment with a steering committee made up ofprivate citizens, the NCO i/c and Ops NCO. Not formallyincorporated as a society.Young offendersTo reduce crime by young offenders in the community and bringsome healing to the victims of crime through consultation andcommunication with offenders.Family Group Conferencing based on the Sparwood model (asdesigned by S/Sgt. Jake Bouwman)RCMP, Probation, Crown, and victims who request the serviceStart-up grant from Ministry of PSSG. No ongoing funding.No paid staff3 on Steering committee, and 6 facilitatorsRCMP members, Crown, Defense Counsel, Judge, Mayor andCouncil, communityTraining:Indicators of Success:Challenges/ Obstacles:In house training provided to new facilitatorsCommunity willingness to be involved in the program and askingfor it on many occasions; no repeat offenders; observed behaviorof participants following a session wherein they are happy, feelthey received a benefit from the program, and speak verypositively about the experience as opposed to traditional courts;we have had a couple of incidents where the offender has workedat a victim’s business to pay back the offence, then the businesshas been so happy they hired the people.Proper funding to train volunteers and expand the program; nothaving a full time coordinator.The Province is saving a lot of money through this system and should be funding it rather thanus always having to do more with less. Without funding in the future all programs will fail.More training and information sessions should be held in the North so volunteers don’t have totravel to the Lower Mainland.