Lanark County Community Justice (LCCJ) is a volunteer-driven organization, based in Perth but working throughout Lanark County to achieve more resilient communities that build relationships and respond to conflict, harm and wrongdoing with restorative practice and restorative justices.

For the past 24 years, the primary focus for LCCJ has been to provide court diversion services for youth and adults by means of Restorative Community Justice Forums. Individuals (or groups) accused of a crime, are recommended to the program by the court system.

A forum is a voluntary, confidential process that brings together victim(s), the accused, their respective support people, and community members, to have a structured conversation about what happened, who was affected, determine the crime’s impact on the community, and how to make things right. Trained volunteers facilitate the forums.

Restorative Justice has multiple positive impacts.

• It saves the community thousands of dollars in policing, legal and social services costs. (A recent research paper calculated that for every $1 spent on the program, $2.53 of community benefit were generated.)
• It helps the perpetrator take true accountability for the crime they have committed and allows them a to make restitution while staying out of the criminal justice system, reducing the likelihood of repeat offences, and building relationships
• It enables victims to have their voices heard and allows them to tell the perpetrator the true impact of the crime and to receive reparations such as: an apology, financial compensation, return/repair of what was taken/damaged.

With Community Grants, PDCF has provided ongoing support to LCCJ and particularly for the Restorative Families Programming and the Triple P Parenting of Teens Group Sessions. These sessions, offered both in-person and online, have been one of LCCJ’s most successful programs.

Many parents and caregivers struggle to navigate relationships with their teenage family members. In Triple P Parenting of Teens, participants learn new skills, tips and tricks on how to use restorative practice and communicate effectively with the teenagers in their lives:

• Build stronger relationships
• Negotiate boundaries and expectations
• Deal calmly with conflict
• Survive emotional rollercoasters
• Prepare for risky situations
• Equip teens to handle life’s problems

In addition to PDCF Community Grants, in 2023, LCCJ received funding from the Community Services Recovery Fund which was distributed by PDCF. With this grant LCCJ developed a 5-Year Strategic Plan and a 5-Year Business Plan. LCCJ reviewed all of their policies and procedures through the lenses of equity, diversity and inclusion, as well as mental health and safety. Now established, these plans and policies will guide LCCJ in meeting their mission.

For up-to-date information on LCCJ’s programming please visit their website at www.commjustice.org/programs