Who are we? Our Mission …
Community Justice Initiatives Association (CJI) is a community-based non-profit society located in Langley, British Columbia, Canada. Considered the ‘go-to’ place for anyone wishing to learn or understand restorative justice practices from a real-world perspective. Our mission is:
To promote peacemaking, reconciliation and the resolution of conflict through the development and application of restorative justice values, principles and processes.
With over 30 years of experience providing conflict resolution programs in such settings as the criminal justice system, organizations, schools, businesses, and for private individuals, we are driven by a unique understanding of conflict in society and have become leaders and pioneers in what we call “restorative justice.”
What is Restorative Justice?
It’s Justice Which Heals
How does restorative justice differ from the justice system, as we know it today? Let’s put it this way. When a crime or violation of law has been committed, the model we employ to punish the guilty and seek justice for victims is often a retributive one.
Retributive justice views crime as a violation of the state, defined by lawbreaking and guilt. The purpose of justice becomes the determination of blame and the administration of consequences, or penalty, to the offender.
The retributive model allows for no dialogue between offender and victim, no reconciliation between the two parties, and thus, no closure, no understanding, and no healing.
Restorative justice, on the other hand, views crime not simply as a violation of laws, or rules, but rather primarily as a violation of people and relationships.
Justice becomes not about punishment or retribution, but a search for solutions that promote reconciliation, repair and reassurance for the victims of crime, the offender, and the community at large. It seeks to heal the pain inflicted by crime, not just attempting to balance the scales through blame and punishment.
That doesn’t mean we believe in zero punishment. In the restorative justice model, accountability and reparation are key elements of the process. However, restorative justice is concerned primarily with the harm done to the victim and addresses that harm and its consequences. The offender is taught to recognise the harm done to the victim and the community. They are given the tools to identify what must be done to right the wrong, and to heal the harm they have inflicted. And by developing empathy and accountability, outcomes for both victim and offender are much more successful.
Restorative justice also promotes a more peaceful way to resolve conflicts, before they turn into crimes.
Why do we believe in Restorative Justice?
Because in a truly ‘just’ society …
We care for all our members, even those who have harmed or been harmed.
We create safe spaces that uphold autonomy, belonging and connection.
We believe that our actions and relationships should be guided by an ethic of care, safety and respect.
We offer healing that can begin with restorative dialogue.
And we foster an approach to conflict that is more restorative than punitive, more relational than isolating, and more healing than harmful.
More About the History of CJI …
When CJI began its victim offender reconciliation program (VORP) in the early 1980s, the theory of restorative justice was still in its infancy. Though its main proponent, Dr. Howard Zehr, had already called for a “paradigm shift” in the criminal justice system, one where we re-examined the way we view and apply “justice”, it was still viewed as a radical departure from the more punitive form of justice that had been employed up till then.
And still, there is no ‘grand theory’ known as restorative justice. Every organization views it a little differently. However, for CJI, it often comes down to the need to heal all parties involved in a conflict.
In 1990, when CJI began its post-incarceration Victim Offender Mediation Program for use in crimes of severe violence, we could see the need for a new, innovative approach.
After all, if you were a victim, would you rather be involved in a nameless, emotionless, impersonal process in which you play a peripheral part? Or would you rather seek answers and perhaps understanding by having the accused face you? Which approach would help you to heal?
Through our programs, we teach restorative justice methods and practices. We identify the needs and obligations created by the offence, support the impacted parties by determining what can and should be done, and seek to heal through mediation, reconciliation and restoration of peace.
How do we do this?
Known as one of the oldest restorative justice organizations in Canada and a pioneer and visionary in the field of justice, CJI has led the way through various programs that seek reconciliation and restoration, such as:
- The Victim Offender Mediation Program for serious crimes, where restorative justice is applied in any criminal matter considered serious enough to warrant two years imprisonment, including where a life or lives have been lost.
- Their partnership with the Langley School District, to pioneer the use of restorative justice methods and practises throughout Langley schools. Addressing conflict through mediation, with the focus on addressing issues of concern before conflict erupts.
- Our innovative programs, where we teach students, teachers and administrators restorative justice methodologies as a solution for resolving conflict and addressing harm.
Why CJI?
Because we teach and promote restorative justice practices that are soundly rooted in theory, delivered by experienced practitioners, using techniques and methodologies that can be tailored to the audience to which they are delivered, be it high-school students, staff, teachers, corporate organisations or individuals.
Through cutting-edge practices, we provide comprehensive training, customised program development and support, as well as a variety of services that can help both victims and offenders. We teach mediation and conflict-resolution skills, through programs that are provincially, nationally and internationally recognized. We are also an organization with a long-standing legacy of practicing restorative justice, and one of the few in North America that are recognised as leaders in their field.
If you’re seeking meaningful, satisfying outcomes for a variety of conflict situations, CJI could be your solution.
Looking for a better way to approach and solve conflicts? If you’re seeking solutions, why not visit our Programs and Services page or contact us for more information?