Restorative justice is a philosophy based on community healing. Rather than focusing solely on punishment, it brings together those affected by an offence to collectively address the harm done and find a path toward repair.
How It Works
In a typical restorative justice process, cases are screened for suitability and affected parties are met with in advance. If the case moves forward, everyone affected by an offence (victims, offenders, and community members) is invited to discuss the circumstances.
Through structured dialogue facilitated by trained facilitators, the focus shifts from "Which rule was broken?" to "Who was harmed and what do they need?" This process empowers victims to have a voice and encourages offenders to take meaningful responsibility for their actions.
In British Columbia
British Columbia has a vibrant network of community-based restorative justice programs, many funded through the Community Accountability Programs (CAP) initiative. Alongside them, Indigenous Justice Programs offer culturally grounded responses to harm through First Nations and Indigenous organisations across the province.
Government also delivers restorative justice directly: youth probation officers in MCFD Youth Justice offices can arrange restorative processes for young people in conflict with the law, and Correctional Service of Canada runs victim–offender mediation for federally sentenced cases. Together these programs serve both youth and adult populations, providing an alternative to, and sometimes a complement to, the traditional court system.
The Directory
RJ in BC is a free community resource designed to bridge the gap between people and programs. Whether you are a victim seeking repair, a lawyer looking for options, or a police officer making a referral, this directory makes it easy to find local services.
Listings are compiled from public registries, the province's Community Accountability Programs list, the Indigenous Justice Association's program map, open government data on MCFD offices, and Correctional Service of Canada, and programs can claim their listing to keep their own details current.
We don't accredit, screen, or endorse the programs listed here, and inclusion isn't a recommendation. See exactly where our data comes from, including what we did and didn't check.