About Community Conferencing

About Community Conferencing The Collaboration

About Community Conferencing

A Community Conference is an opportunity for everyone affected by a crime or harmful act committed by a teenager to participate in acknowledging and addressing the harm caused. This involves a meeting between the young person, his/her family and supporters and the victim(s), their family and supporters. The conference is organized and guided by a facilitator. Personal meetings are held with participants in their homes in preparation for the community conference. An agreement is developed and then provided, along with a summary of the conference, to each participant, as well as to the referral source (youth court & schools).

Referrals may come from the Youth Court following a guilty plea as a pre-sentence measure or from public school administrators to re-establish safety in the school community. Youth Court referrals specifically target more serious offences where the young person is likely to receive a jail sentence. School referrals target serious incidents where the student is likely to be suspended or expelled.

The Collaboration

Calgary Community Conferencing (CCC) began as a part-time initiative of Youth Probation Services, City of Calgary in April 1998. In September 1999 a collaborative, interagency approach to Conferencing was developed, involving a partnership between justice, education and community-based agencies.

The organizations collaborating in Calgary Community Conferencing are:

Sponsoring Organizations

• Youth Probation Services, City of Calgary
• Calgary Board of Education, Student Response Team
• Calgary John Howard Society
• Mennonite Central Committee

Partnering Organizations

• Calgary Family Services

Financial Contributors

• Alberta Solicitor General
• The Calgary Foundation
• Alberta Law Foundation
• 

The sponsoring organizations each second employee(s) to Calgary Community Conferencing. Partnering organizations provide consultation and resources to the program and its participants. An Advisory Board composed of management level representatives from each of the organizations assists CCC with the development of funding proposals and with navigating systemic and organizational issues.

CCC does not exist as a separate entity, but, rather, remains a partnership among the collaborating organizations. The facilitators remain employees of their home organizations. This is a significant feature; Crown disclosure, including victim contact information, is provided through Youth Probation. Student information is given to the Calgary Board of Education Specialist seconded to CCC, complying with relevant legislation (Young Offender Act, Freedom of Information and Privacy Act).

Calgary Youth Probation/City of Calgary
provides a direct link to judges, Crown and defence and is already mandated to support the Court at the pre-sentence stage through the completion of pre- disposition reports (PDR). Often times, a conference referral is made and a PDR requested jointly and the probation officer is an active participant in the Community Conference. Community & Neighbourhood Services, City of Calgary is contracted by Alberta Justice to provide youth probation services within Calgary.

Calgary Board of Education
Community Conferencing Specialists, who are also members of the CBE's Student Response Team, provide support and assist school administration to provide leadership in re-establishing safety in the school community. Referrals may be made immediately following a serious incident and the Specialist is available as a consultant in determining the appropriateness of a conference and/or other possible resources. The conference process provides victims with an opportunity to describe the impact of the incident and supports students in understanding the impact their behaviour has had on others in the school community.

Mennonite Central Committee
MCC is a pioneer in the development of restorative justice philosophy and programs with experience in mediation, prison visitation and youth justice programming. MCC brings a strong and comprehensive national and international network of organizations committed to meaningful resolution of conflict and the development of healthy communities. In addition, MCC has lengthy experience recruiting, training and managing volunteers.

Calgary John Howard Society
CJHS established a Victim-Offender Reconciliation Program (VORP) in 1985.Mediation and conferencing services are provided at all stages of the criminal justice system and as an alternative to the laying of formal charges. Community volunteers are utilized as mediators and conference facilitators and undergo extensive training and supervision.

Family Community Support Services (FCSS)

Calgary Family Services
CFS offers individual, family and group counselling on a sliding scale. Participants of a Community Conference who wish to access counselling can do so through a direct referral via CCC.

Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary
Dr. Avery Calhoun, Faculty of Social Work, has provided valuable support in the development and implementation of program evaluation since June 1999.