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Presentations...
If you or an organization you know is interested in finding out more about conferencing, please contact any number given below! We would be happy to come out to speak to your group.
*Sandra Sobkowich
begins her maternity leave August 25, 2000.
We wish her well with her new baby!
She will stay connected by doing the occasional conference.
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Strathmore Conference– A Special Case by Sandra Sobkowich
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The theft of two vehicles and several vehicle-break-ins resulted in a community conference being held in Strathmore recently. The case was unique for the Project as referrals are typically made before a young person receives a disposition in court. In this case, a young person involved had already been given a disposition in court yet it was clear there were still emotional benefits to proceeding with a conference. During the conference everyone had an opportunity to tell how they were affected by the experience. Those who were victimized had issue with the fact their sense of safety and security within their small community was now shattered
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Concluding the conference, the young person apologized to everyone individually and expressed his desire to compensate for the harm caused. All victims deemed their participation worthwhile because they gained a better understanding of what had happened and now had a view of the young person that was different from what they initially thought. The young person himself described the process as a very difficult experience but felt relieved afterwards. He was surprised at the level of respect that was shown to him and was grateful for everyone’s participation.
One of the most notable features of community conferences is often
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the personal transformation that individuals experience when given the opportunity to deal with conflict resulting from offending behavior in a safe and constructive manner. This conference was no exception. As people learned more about the incident and about one another, they were able to deal with the incident on a very human level. The conference experience reinforces the fact that crime is much more than the mere breaking of a law. First and foremost it is a violation of people and relationships and this acknowledgement helps ensure that the needs of people most affected by crime are not lost or forgotten in the wake of our more formal justice processes
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