Restorative Justice Week

 History

RJ Week appears to have started in England with the Prisoner's Sunday established to remember incarcerated men and women in 1975. The day of remembrance expanded to Canada where it was extended to a week in 1995. In 1996, it was renamed 'Restorative Justice Week: Community, Victims, and Prisoners' to more clearly represent the sentiments of the observance. It is generally the third week of November, although the dates used by different groups may vary.

Suggested Activities

Recognized as an interfaith holiday, Restorative Justice week has grown in popularity among secular organizations as well. Suggested activities from the The Restorative Justice Ministry Network of North America include

• Interfaith Prayer vigils

• Visits to local detention centers

• Guest speakers for schools and community organizations

• Distributing informational material

• Ask local media to provide time for public service announcements.

Restorative Justice Week provides an opportunity for opening dialog with different sectors of the community as well as a platform for launching new pilot projects.

Plans For 2001

November 19 (tentative)-  The Restorative Justice & Women Victims Of Violence Project in Prince Edward Island will host a one-day workshop. It will bring together

• survivors of violence,

• women's organizations

• victim advocacy organizations,

• restorative justice practitioners

•  justice system policy makers

• and front line service providers.

The purpose is to dialogue about the potential for decriminalization of violence against women through the use of restorative processes, and the conditions that would make restorative justice approaches an option for women victims of violence in Prince Edward Island. For more information contact: Kirstin Lund, Project Coordinator at (902) 569-1894

November 20-  The Correctional Service of Canada's Edmonton Institution for Women will be hosting a Restorative Justice conference. Keynote speakers will include Pierre Allard, Assistant Commissioner, Correctional Service of Canada and Darlene Rempel, Executive Director, Manitoba Organization of Victim Advocates (MOVA). Content  will include a forum with workshops to encourage dialogue. Contact: Reno Guimond, Edmonton Institution for Women Chaplain at (780) 495-7570.

November 23-The Correctional Service of Canada through its Restorative Justice Unit and its National Steering Committee on Restorative Justice and Dispute Resolution will award the  Wiebe Restorative Justice Award at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario.

The award honours the late Ron Wiebe, formerly Warden of Ferndale and Elbow Lake Minimum Institutions, for his outstanding commitment and leadership in the field of restorative justice. It  serves to recognize Canadians who have demonstrated, through their work or lifestyles, new and innovative ways of transforming human relations, by enabling and promoting communication and healing between people in conflict. For more information, please contact: Carol-Anne Grenier, Project Officer, Restorative Justice and Dispute Resolution Unit at (613) 943-5049 or by E-mail: GrenierCA@csc-scc.gc.ca.

November 23-25- There will be a three day restorative justice symposium titled "Victims, Offenders, and Community"  in Peterborough, Ontario at the Northview Auditorium.

Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

The tentative schedule for activities is:

• November 12- 7:00PM, Restorative Justice Video Night, Sites TBA
• November 13- 7:00PM, Community Panel Discussions on Restorative Justice
• November 15- All Day, Restorative Justice in our schools
• November 16- All Day, Justice in Native Cultures Day
• November 17-18- All Day, Youth Restorative Justice Weekend
• November 18 or 19- (date TBD), Jim Zion Dinner and presentation of Tom Cavanagh award

If you know of other Restorative Justice Week activities please contact Lynette Parker.

By Lynette Parker

October 2001

Ireland

Restorative Justice Ministry Network

Past Years

Correctional Services Canada 2000

Minnesota 1999