Community Accountability Programs Information ... - Ministry of Justice

Diversion strategies and measures benefit victims, offenders, andcommunities:• They take less time to initiate and complete than court proceedings, soresolutions are more immediate and meaningful to victims and offenders.• They can redress the impacts of the offence through restitution tovictims and the community rather than to the Crown.• In some cases, they may incorporate preventive measures, such ascounselling or training, that can reduce the likelihood of repeatedoffences. (The formal justice system also offers these measures.)• They provide a resolution for minor offences, which are often moreeffectively dealt with at the community level rather than by invokingthe full weight and complexity of court proceedings.• They allow victims to be more meaningfully involved in the resolution ofoffences, which provides for greater victim satisfaction in the process.• They eliminate the stigma of a criminal record for first-time offenderswho have committed minor offences.• They result in low rates of re-offending and recidivism, and in high ratesof offender compliance with the agreements reached through therestorative justice process.Developing a Community AccountabilityProgramThis section provides some practical advice on how to start a CommunityAccountability Program and identifies issues and challenges that requirecareful review. While each program will be delivered in a unique way, youmay wish to consider the following points as you begin to develop yours.Needs assessmentDEFINING YOUR COMMUNITYOne of the first steps in developing a Community Accountability Programis to define your community. It need not be limited to a geographic area,such as a small town, a school district, or a neighbourhood. It could be a“community of interest” (a shopping mall, for example).Getting Started 29