witchlinblue
11-20-2005, 03:37 AM
Centre Hastings - Talk focuses on working to build better communities
How wrongdoers can give something back to their victims and the community is the subject of a talk in Madoc.
Rod Carter knows the Canadian justice system intimately, having been an inmate within its system. He is now an ordained minister and chair of Restorative Justice at Queen’s University.
He has been speaking to Canadians about creative solutions to problems with youth crime in the community. Currently, in lieu of a prison sentence or fine, the court can give convicted youth a set number of hours to work with a non-profit organization.
Carter thinks there are better ways.
He draws on practices from around the world to make his point. For example, community conferencing, rooted in the Maori culture in New Zealand, involves the offender’s family holding the offender accountable for his or her actions.
In Canada, conferencing programs are used to involve youths, their families, and victims. Both parties meet with a facilitator to talk about the crime. The offender has an opportunity to respond and both parties come to an agreement about how to make things right. The responsibility of the offender is known and because of this, it is more likely that the community can help to make reparations possible. It also helps victims take part in seeing justice done and gives offenders an opportunity to be accountable for their actions.
The Reverend Carter, who grew up in this area, is involved in working to make our communities safer by introducing new scenarios for fighting crime.
The talk will be held November 22 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Wesleyan and Free Methodist Church, 135 Elgin Street, Madoc. Admission is free.
Those interested in working toward a safer community are encouraged to attend. This talk is sponsored by Centre Hastings Community Corrections. For further information please call 473-5190.
How wrongdoers can give something back to their victims and the community is the subject of a talk in Madoc.
Rod Carter knows the Canadian justice system intimately, having been an inmate within its system. He is now an ordained minister and chair of Restorative Justice at Queen’s University.
He has been speaking to Canadians about creative solutions to problems with youth crime in the community. Currently, in lieu of a prison sentence or fine, the court can give convicted youth a set number of hours to work with a non-profit organization.
Carter thinks there are better ways.
He draws on practices from around the world to make his point. For example, community conferencing, rooted in the Maori culture in New Zealand, involves the offender’s family holding the offender accountable for his or her actions.
In Canada, conferencing programs are used to involve youths, their families, and victims. Both parties meet with a facilitator to talk about the crime. The offender has an opportunity to respond and both parties come to an agreement about how to make things right. The responsibility of the offender is known and because of this, it is more likely that the community can help to make reparations possible. It also helps victims take part in seeing justice done and gives offenders an opportunity to be accountable for their actions.
The Reverend Carter, who grew up in this area, is involved in working to make our communities safer by introducing new scenarios for fighting crime.
The talk will be held November 22 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Wesleyan and Free Methodist Church, 135 Elgin Street, Madoc. Admission is free.
Those interested in working toward a safer community are encouraged to attend. This talk is sponsored by Centre Hastings Community Corrections. For further information please call 473-5190.