For 13 years, volunteers with the Innisfail Restorative Justice Society have been offering first-time offenders a second chance.
Typically working with youth from Innisfail and Penhold and as far away as Pine Lake, Markerville and Caroline, vice-chair and program coordinator, J.J. Beauchamp said they do work with adults between their 20s and 50s as well.
“It makes them reflect and realize their mistake,” said Beauchamp of the three-month program.
Last week, 48 people turned out for the society’s annual banquet to honour the volunteers.
Innisfail Mayor Jim Romaine was in attendance and Coun. April Jones from Penhold, part of the restorative justice board, was present as well. Other attendees included representatives from the RCMP, Bowden Institution, and Innisfail Jr./Sr. High School.
“It was a great turnout and it’s good to see all the support we’re getting from the community,” said Beauchamp.
Sandra Prokopiw from Alberta Justice Department was in town for the banquet and awarded three members of the Hardy family for their service.
Five years ago Trevor Hardy joined the society. He had worked in correctional services and wanted a chance to help teens heading down the road to a life of crime, a chance to change their life course, he explained.
Once he started to volunteer and realized how much he liked it, he asked his son Cole, then 22, to join.
“At that time he had some interest in policing and any related experience you can get will only help you out,” he said of Cole joining.
Not soon after, Debbie, Trevor’s wife, joined as well.
“It’s very rewarding,” she said of the experience. “It’s good to get involved in the community and give something back.”
She works as the treasurer, and Trevor and Cole, facilitators.
Cases are referred to the society from RCMP, the Crown, judge, or probation officer and the group decides if it wants to take on the case.
The offender is brought before one or three facilitators to talk about why they did what they did, and to talk with the victim.
“I think that’s part of our success,” said Trevor Hardy of the open communication between the group and the offender.
Depending on the crime, the offenders might have to clean up or repair something in town or help shovel seniors’ driveways during the winter, said Beauchamp as examples. Every two weeks, they have to check in with one of the facilitators and talk about their progress.
“At first they sometimes act all tough, or pretend it’s not that big of a deal, but then they start to get into it and want to tell us how well they’re doing at school,” said Beauchamp, smiling.
Last year, the 16 volunteers logged 4,200 hours.
