​Building Stronger Relationships
​Through Restorative Practices

The Process 

The Process: 

Lanark County Community Justice consists of over 30 trained and dedicated community volunteers who agree to meet with the young person, their parent/guardian(s), victims and other community members at a forum, to negotiate a way to make amends in the form of agreed sanctions.
​The conference provides a voice to the victim, an opportunity for communities to become involved in the administration of youth justice, and an opportunity for young persons to better understand the impact of their actions. This process results in a timely and meaningful resolution that also avoids victims and witnesses having to attend court. 
Our court diversion program is voluntary and individuals must be willing to accept responsibility for their actions that led to the police involvement or a criminal charge. Upon successful completion of the assigned sanction(s), the charge(s) will be withdrawn or stayed for further referrals and no charges will be laid.
Records of participation will be kept for a two year period and can be brought to the Crown's attention if the individual re-offends during this period, even after they turn 18. 
Referral Eligibility
To be considered for the program, the accused must be willing to:
  1. Accept responsibility for the actions that led to the charge
  2. Meet with a Youth Justice Committee and complete agreed upon “sanctions”
Form Submission 
Before Submitting: 
  • Get victim contact information
  • Tell victim you are diverting the case
  • Ensure that the accused has been informed of the possibility of participating in a Community Justice Forum, and has given permission for their information to be given to Lanark County Community Justice (LCCJ). 
  • Ensure that the accused is willing to accept responsibility for the events that took place. 
  • Ensure all fields of each form have been filled out accurately. 
  • Ensure that you have accurately recorded the accused DOB.
  • Attach any additional forms for additional persons involved in the case (please attach a separate form for more than one accused, complainant or witness.)
  • POLICE READ: I voluntarily agree to the diversion of my potential charges to Lanark County Community Justice. I have been advised of my right to counsel, and have been given the opportunity to consult with counsel. I consent to information about the offense(s) being shared between the police and Lanark County Community Justice, and consent to the complainant (victim) in the offence(s) being advised that I am participating in this program. I understand that I will be asked to participate in a community justice forum to
    discuss what happened, who was harmed, and how I can repair the harm.
The successful completion of this diversion program will result in this incident NOT becoming a matter of criminal court. LCCJ retains the right to decide whether a referral will be accepted, and the discretion to refuse a referral for any reason.
Forum Facts for Justice Partners 
  • You are NOT required to attend the forum. You are encouraged to participate. We may call you for more information and your input in regards to how to repair the harm. 
  • If you are participating, you will speak first so you're done, and can get back to your regular duties within about 20-30 minutes. 
  • If you participate, we will ask "How were you impacted?" so you can focus on the impact on your shift (i.e. time spent responding to this call so not available to respond to other situations) 
  • Forums will focus on discussing the harm caused, the impact to the victim(s) and the community, and ways to make things right.
  • Police DO still get credit/recognition for the arrest if they divert an offender to our program as a pre-charge. 
  • We accept referrals for youth AND adults. 
  • Our team of facilitators are highly trained to ensure positive outcomes for victims and hold offenders accountable. 
  • Receives all sanction agreements detailing what the offender is required to do for the charges to remain diverted, this can be found in the Disposition of Charges.
  • When the file is closed, we will inform you, or the Crown, so you know what happened, and when the offender has successfully completed our program. 

Fillable Forms: 

All forms are downloadable & interactive PDFs! 
Snapset Form 2020
File Size: 78 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Police Referral Form 2020
File Size: 93 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Crown Referral Form 2020
File Size: 82 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
* PLEASE REMEMBER:
to include Crown Brief or Case Synopsis as well as FULL victim contact information in addition to your form. 

Tools & Resources:

YJCA Training - Former Bill C75.pptx
File Size: 395 kb
File Type: pptx
Download File
YJC Info Slides 2019.pptx
File Size: 210 kb
File Type: pptx
Download File
YJC Info Flyer 2019.pdf
File Size: 788 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File