Who Is This Course For?

This course is ONLY for active volunteers with Restorative Justice Victoria who have been provided the link. If you sign up for this course and are not a volunteer, you will be removed from its access promptly. Please enroll for our Victim Services & Restorative Justice course instead. 

Welcome

This course is where you will find the preparatory work for the caseworker training. Our goal with this course is to provide you will the opportunity to learn about some foundational concepts for the training. We will be hosting a lengthy discussion period during our first live training session, so please bring your questions and thoughts. 

This course has three modules, which we anticipate taking you approximately 1-2 hours to complete each. You can go at your own pace and do not need to complete them all at once. If you have any technical issues, please email us.

A Note About Language

Often the terms "victim" and "offender" can make those on the receiving end feel uncomfortable. At Restorative Justice Victoria, we use the terms "affected party" and "responsible party." In this course however, we also use the terms "victim" and "offender", because we pulled most of the written content from previous training meant for a wide variety of organizations. 

Module Overview

  • 1

    Introduction

    • Important Course Information

    • Pre-Survey
  • 2

    Introduction to Restorative Justice

    • Overview

    • Restorative Justice Presentation

    • Restorative Justice In British Columbia

    • Restorative Justice Legislation

    • Pathways from the Criminal Legal System to Restorative Justice

    • The Restorative Justice Process

    • 1) Referral

    • 2) Suitability Assessment

    • 3) Exploration of Accountability and Repair Phase

    • 4) Dialogue Phase

    • 5) Repair Phase

    • 6) Closure

    • Types of Restorative Justice Processes

    • Risks of Restorative Justice

    • Benefits of Restorative Justice

    • Conclusion

    • Discussion

    • Further Reading and Resources

    • Bibliography
  • 3

    Trauma-Informed Practice

    • Overview

    • Trauma-Informed Practice Presentation

    • What Can Trauma Look Like?

    • What Can Trauma Look Like Within the RJ Process?

    • Conclusion

    • Discussion

    • Further Reading & Resources

    • Bibliography
  • 4

    Victim-Centred Restorative Justice

    • Overview

    • Victim-Centred Restorative Justice Presentation (Part 1)

    • Victim-Centred Restorative Justice Presentation (Part 2)

    • Common Victim Needs in the Aftermath of Crime

    • How Our Mainstream Criminal Legal System Meets Victims’ Justice Needs

    • How Restorative Justice Meets Victims’ Justice Needs

    • When Restorative Justice Does Not Meet Victims’ Justice Needs

    • Present-Day Research about Victims and Restorative Justice

    • Obstacles Between Victims and Restorative Justice

    • Approaching a Definition of Victim-Centred RJ Practice

    • Working with Responsible Parties in a Victim-Sensitive Way

    • Maximizing Support for Victims in RJ

    • Spectrum of Affected Party Participation

    • Limitations and Risks in RJ

    • Addressing Concerns and Risks in RJ

    • Avoiding Re-Victimization in RJ

    • The Power of Language

    • Conclusion

    • Discussion

    • Further Reading & Resources

    • Bibliography
  • 5

    Conclusion

    • Course Conclusion