Source: (2002) Behavioral Sciences and the Law. 20: 363-380.
According to the authors of this paper, the Canadian justice system is unsatisfactory for both victims and offenders. Many people have become disillusioned with the criminal justice system, and many jurisdictions have adopted “get toughâ€? responses to crime. However, the authors note, Canada also has a longstanding tradition of restorative justice innovation. Many of the innovations have originated in the faith community, in particular the Mennonite community. The authors build on this background to identify and explore three current Canadian restorative justice initiatives: sentencing circles in Saskatchewan; the Restorative Justice Options to Parole Suspension program in Victoria, British Columbia; and a circles of support and accountability pilot project in the greater Toronto area to assist high risk sexual offenders in community reintegration.
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