OUR PURPOSE
The FACE Program is based on acceptance rather than control of offending behaviour. This is the essence of restorative justice. We do not attempt to eliminate offending behaviour from our society. This would be wishful thinking. Rather, we accept offending behaviour and conflict in general as a part of life, which is here to stay. This neutral acceptance we have found turns offending behaviour from something that is often shunned and avoided into a positive community resource.
On the most basic level, if offending behaviour is faced and dealt with by those most directly involved and affected, the matter is opened up and dealt with, without lasting consequences. The damage is repaired as best it can and life goes on. This is to be contrasted with simply controlling and closing down whatever anger or other impulse was behind the conflict. We all know that this only causes the problem to continue to simmer, eventually breaking out in worse damage and in the meantime sapping good energy and destroying relationships.
On a deeper level, the coming together of those most directly affected often leads to an understanding of the underlying problem. Although the offender must be held accountable for his or her actions, these actions are seen as a signpost for change and recognition that a problem needs attention and that problem is often larger than one offender. Once this problem is exposed and dealt with, the offender, we have found, is more willing to make amends for his or her behaviour. There is no need to pass judgement on the offender; the offender passes judgement on him or herself and turns to a better way. This is much more effective in changing behaviour.
At the highest level, the sharing of the offending behaviour by the community directly affected and the acceptance of the offender as part of this community has the effect of bringing back together the family or community into relationship. This is community building. It is not enough to impose sanctions on the offender and then return him or her to the family or community they came from. It was the family or community that produced the offender and either promoted or contributed to the offending behaviour. We need restoration of not only the offender but also his or her family and community. Restorative justice, the way we practice it, does just that. If faced head-on by the offender, the victim and the immediate community of each, the problem becomes the flash point for community renewal. Only then do those involved have the understanding and the will to reach out to each other and to whatever community resources may be needed to help those involved and make the community a better place.
Conflict or offending behaviour is evidence of energy at work. If we label it negative and close it down, it becomes just that negative consequences. If on the other hand, we accept it as a part of life and a part of our community it becomes a positive community resource. That is what we have learned thus far.
Our learning has been primarily by experience, although our initial learning was by listening to the remembered experience of our aboriginal peoples. We have also learned that the best way to teach this new form of thinking is the same way, that is, by experience. Although it is important for community restorative justice projects to have sufficient resources to grow and develop, little is gained by lecture or legislation. The learning required is a change of attitude and this occurs primarily by experience, by participating in a restorative justice circle. This has been particularly effective with police officers who initially and understandable viewed our program as yet another alternative measure, but once involved realized that this is very effective in changing attitudes and in restoring community relationships. Our project is a grass roots effort that will take time, but time well spent. The community and in particular victim satisfaction is already very evident. We believe that the eventual community renewal is inevitable.
