Community Accountability Programs Information ... - Ministry of Justice

Is the future addressed?• Is there provision for solving the problems thatled to this event?• Is there provision for solving problems causedby this event?• Have future intentions been addressed?• Are there provisions for monitoring andverifying outcomes and for problem solving?Things to considerAnyone involved in developing a Community Accountability Program mustbe aware of the impact that the program can have on people’s lives.Because of the potential for intrusiveness, it should be undertaken withcare. A cardinal rule of the program must be “Do no further harm.” You willneed to make every effort to ensure that victims are not re-victimized whenthey participate in the program, that offenders are dealt with fairly and inan appropriate manner, and that all participants are treated with respectand dignity at all times.This section highlights some very important considerations for you to keepin mind before starting a program. While many of these issues arediscussed in greater detail in Part 3, they are introduced here to emphasizetheir importance in the program planning process.Accepting referralsBe aware of the types of cases that your program should and should notaccept. Community Accountability Programs should not handle cases thatinvolve violence against women in relationships, sexual offences, child abuse,or hate crimes.Community Accountability Programs should review the categories ofoffences and ensure that they do not accept referrals for cases that fall intoCategories 1 and 2. See Appendix A for an overview of the types of casesthat fall into each category.Crown counsel has policies that provide guidance on the types of cases forwhich alternative measures would and would not be an appropriateresponse. These policies are currently being updated and are therefore notRestorative Justice: Promoting Community-Based Responses to Crime 15