Restorative Justice Victoria

Restorative Justice Victoria is a non-profit, community-based organization that provides restorative justice services in the Greater Victoria Area (British Columbia, Canada). Established in 2002, Restorative Justice Victoria (RJV) is nationally recognized leader in the field of restorative justice. We work with youth (12+) and adults. We receive 75-150 referrals annually from local police, British Columbia Crown Counsel, judges, probation, schools, community organizations, and members of the community. The goal of our work is to address the harms resulting from crime and violence. Our methodologies can be used as a diversion from, or in conjunction with, the traditional justice system, or outside of the traditional justice system entirely.

Modern restorative justice is a relatively new concept in the context of the Canadian legal system, and RJV has been instrumental in helping individuals and communities heal through this practice for almost two decades. At RJV, we tailor our approach in every case. The participants, with special consideration for the victim as the person most directly impacted by the crime, help design the process. We are flexible and responsive to our clients and offer a variety of models. Our processes are designed around the concepts of safety, dignity, belonging, and respect, and those who participate in them report high levels of satisfaction, increased confidence in the justice system, and feeling safer and more connected to their communities.

RJV uses a variety of restorative justice models and is one of the few programs in the province that accepts referrals at almost all stages of the criminal justice system (except for matters that will result in a federal sentence). We receive referrals for a wide range of offences, with the most common being mischief, various forms of assault, and theft. A restorative justice process can potentially be used for any incident or crime in which harm has occurred. This can happen when the offender shows an adequate degree of responsibility and willingness to address the resulting harms, and when the victim would like an opportunity to be heard, have questions answered, or seek restitution. All cases must be individually assessed for appropriateness.