Bulletin: Working with Schools

The Restorative Justice program has shown exceptional results in helping young offenders understand the consequences of their actions and take responsible steps in being accountable for them.

The province would like to help more young people understand the consequences of conflict and learn ways to resolve conflict responsibly -- before the conflict becomes criminal.

The Tri-County Restorative Justice Society, Nova Scotia Legal Aid, and Tri-County School Board have developed a project that may do just that. Government will fund their project -- Bringing Restorative Justice to Schools -- on a pilot basis in Yarmouth junior high schools.

Youth from Yarmouth Consolidated High School will be trained as community representatives at Restorative Justice sessions, building their knowledge and leadership skills. These young people will be used as intervention teams in neighbouring junior high schools to support school administrators in responding to school-based conflict situations.

Project goals include developing new approaches such as:

• school discipline
• reducing school suspensions
• reducing youth crime
• developing youth leadership
• getting help for youth with mental health and addictions issues
• strengthening relationships with the community.

Investment:$55,000 Sites: Yarmouth County Strategy Link:Prevention, see pp. 54-55, Time to Fight Crime Together

The complete crime prevention strategy is available online at www.gov.ns.ca .