Why Am I Here? You are here because you have had some involvement in an unlawful incident which has caused harm.  Maybe you have stolen something. You might have been in possession of something that wasn’t yours. Perhaps some property has been damaged. You may have been involved in an assault (or fight) that left someone injured or feeling hurt.  Possibly you were simply in a place where you shouldn’t have been. A Justice Circle will allow you to participate in repairing the harm caused by your actions.

Do I Have to Do This?

No, this is a purely voluntary process. You are free to speak with anyone you choose about your options.

What is a Justice Circle?

A Justice Circle is a one-time meeting between ‘offender’ (you) and ‘victim’ (the person you have harmed).  Other people will be in attendance as well. You will be able to bring your parents (or another support person) with you. The victim will also be able to bring a support person with them. In addition, there will be two trained facilitators (people who lead the meeting) from the Justice Circle Program.

The goal of the Justice Circle is to allow people who have been directly involved in an incident to decide together what the outcome should be.

What Happens During a Justice Circle?

Once everyone has arrived and is seated, the facilitators will begin by introducing everyone and giving a brief description of the incident.  From that point on, a script will be followed. The script helps to make sure that all Circles run the same way and allows everyone an opportunity to speak. It will be your turn to speak first and you must be prepared to participate fully in this process. 

You will be asked to talk about how you became involved in the incident and you will be expected to share your thoughts and feelings about what happened.  Your victim will then be asked to describe how they have been affected by what has happened. Your supporters, and theirs will be given the same opportunity. Once that discussion has taken place, we will begin to talk about the Circle Agreement.

What is the Circle Agreement?

The Agreement is basically a plan for restitution. Making restitution means repairing the harm (or righting the wrong). Your victim will be asked what they would like to see happen next, in order to make them feel better about what has happened. The goal of the Agreement is to find a fair and appropriate solution to the problem. The Agreement is arrived at by conversation and negotiation. You will be a part of this discussion and be able to have input into it. So will your supporters. No two Circle Agreements are the same. The outcome depends entirely on the people in the group and their response to the incident.
Some examples of what might be asked of you in a Circle Agreement are:

• To write a letter of apology to your victims
• To perform some community volunteer hours
• To attend a community program such as the Crime Prevention Program, the Anger Management Program or CHOICES
• To pay for repairs to damaged property
• To pay to replace stolen property ….. remember, these are only examples. What you will need to do will be decided at your own Circle.

Once the Agreement is written down you will be asked to sign it. You will be given a reasonable time in which to complete the necessary tasks. Completing the Agreement is your responsibility however, if you need any help during that process, it will be available to you. Once you have completed the Agreement, it will be your responsibility to provide any necessary documentation to the Justice Circle staff so that they can report back to the person who referred you (the Court or the Police). If you do not provide this documentation you cannot be considered as successfully completing the Program and your file will be returned to the Police or to the Courts who may take further action.

When & Where Do Circles Happen?

Justice Circles typically happen in the community where the incident took place, and attempts are made to arrange a time and date convenient for everyone.  (In the event of a scheduling conflict, the victims’ needs will take priority). Circles can happen during the day or during the evening.    

Why Should I Consider a Justice Circle?

Attending and participating in a Justice Circle provides you with:

• An alternative to Court
• Less likelihood of a criminal record
• An opportunity to have the offense dealt with more quickly
• A chance to take responsibility for your own behavior
• A chance to have input into what happens next
• An opportunity to repair the harm which has been caused: to your victim, your family, your community and to yourself