Community Accountability Programs Information ... - Ministry of Justice

Guidelines for working with victims• Be aware of the dynamics of victimization. Be especially sensitive to thefact that victims may be vulnerable to pressure from anyone seen as anauthority figure (e.g., a police officer, volunteer, even the offender).• When assessing a referral, determine whether participation in theprocess may jeopardize the victim’s emotional, psychological, orphysical safety.• Give victims complete and accurate information about the restorativejustice process, their choice to participate, and the limits toconfidentiality and privacy. Make sure that victims understand that thegoal of the process is not reconciliation and that there is no expectationthat they will forgive the offender.• Be aware that a victim’s readiness to participate in the process isaffected by various factors and that he or she will require support whendeciding whether to participate. Victim services programs have themandate and expertise to provide that support. (For more informationon victim services programs, see page 22.)• Ensure that the victim is represented at the non-judicial conference todiscuss the circumstances of the offence. If the victims themselvescannot or are unwilling to attend, have the victim impact statementread at the conference, or arrange for a surrogate to represent thevictim’s perspective and concerns.• Ensure that victims are informed about the outcome of the process andany agreement that the offender is expected to fulfil. Recognize that theoutcome for the victim is as important as the outcome for the offenderor the community.• Familiarize yourself with the victim support organizations in your area.You will need this information in order to make effective referrals. (Formore information, see page 22.)• With the help of these organizations, develop a checklist of victimconcerns that may arise before, during, and after the non-judicialconference. This checklist will enable you to provide victims with thepre- and post-conference support they need.• Work with these agencies to ensure that victims’ needs are met.Consult with victim services staff and volunteers, and include them aspartners in your community work. (See Appendix E.)• When you meet with victims, find out whether they are aware of thesupport services available to them and whether they have receivedGuidelines for Working with Victims and Offenders 21