Advocates fear the federal government’s strong emphasis on incarceration and punishment will push healing to the side
The federal government’s emphasis on incarceration and punishment in response to crime has created concern that restorative justice approaches are being pushed to the background. The government describes restorative justice as “one way to respond to a criminal act” but a former federal ombudsman for victims of crime says “In reality, there’s no interest from this government (in restorative justice).” What does this mean for the future of restorative justice in Canada?
We speak with three people who have experienced—and studied—restorative justice.
Manjit and Suman Virk’s eldest child Reena was swarmed and killed by her peers under a bridge in Victoria, British Columbia in 1997. She was 14 years old. Reena Virk had been repeatedly hit, punched and kicked, burned with cigarettes, and apparently attempts were made to set her hair on fire. It is believed that she died after one of the group forced Reena’s head under water and held it there until she stopped struggling.
Anne Marie Hagan was a 19-year-old nursing student home on summer holidays when she saw her father murdered with an axe right before her eyes. Thomas Hagan was murdered in 1979 in the village of Kingman’s Cove, Newfoundland, by his neighbour. Anne Marie tried to stop the attacker, but he turned the axe on her as well.
Both Manjit Virk and Anne Marie Hagan eventually came into direct contact with the killers of their loved ones—and became, over time, articulate and passionate leaders in the field of restorative justice.
Evelyn Zellerer holds a PhD in criminology, is a restorative facilitator, consultant, and speaker, as well as a part-time instructor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Evelyn makes it clear that “restorative justice is not soft on crime.” She has seen that restorative justice offers much greater creativity in determining what needs to happen for amends and making things right—even with serious crimes like assault and murder.
We speak with Manjit Virk, Anne Marie Hagan, and Evelyn Zellerer.
Image: Anne Marie Hagan (left) and Manjit Virk (R). Manjit Virk’s image by Rafe Arnott/Metro Vancouver News.
