What does the Lanark County Community Justice Program do?

LCCJP provides court diversion services for youth and adults in Lanark County by means of Community Justice Forums.

What is a Community Justice Forum?

A forum is a voluntary, confidential process that brings together victims, the accused, and their respective support people to have a structured conversation about what happened, who was affected, and how they were affected.

Cases are referred to LCCJP from a number of different sources, such as the Crown, attorneys or police.  We accept both pre-charge & post-charge referrals.

LCCJP maintains a roster of highly trained volunteer forum facilitators.  Once a case is accepted by our program a team of facilitators is assigned. 

Being constantly sensitive to the need for confidentiality, team members interview all parties involved and schedule a mutually agreeable date and place for a community justice forum.

The volunteer facilitator's role is to guide the forum discussion, and ensure that the process is respectful for all. Together, forum participants create a written agreement of what the accused will do to repair the harm they have caused.

Once there is a written agreement, LCCJP monitors the accused's compliance, and reports back to the referring source at regular intervals.

What is the Written Agreement?

The Written Agreement states what the accused will do to "make things right."

Everyone involved in a forum has a say about the contents of the Agreement. People work together in a forum to reach consensus on actions that are reasonable, respectful and meaningful ways to repair the harm.

Once the Agreement is typed, and signed by everyone present, it becomes a legally binding document.  It is the responsibility of the accused to comply with what the Written Agreement says.

The referring source receives the signed original Agreement.  If the accused fails to comply with the terms of the Agreement, the case may be referred back to the police or the Crown.   

Funding

We are a funded Agency of the Lanark County United Way, and Supporting Agency to the Lanark Youth Justice Committee, funded by the Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario.

The Lanark County Community Justice Program has received funding from:

Perth & District Community Foundation

Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada

The Ontario Trillium Foundation

A Lanark County Enhancement Grant

A Lanark County United Way Special Project Grant

Local service clubs & other local organizations

Individual donors