The topics of justice, healing and forgiveness were discussed on Monday at a restorative justice conference in Prince Albert.
Restorative justice focuses on the needs of victims and involves the community, instead of just punishing the offender.
Monday’s conference, put on by the Prince Albert Grand Council’s alternative measures program, featured several presentations from different groups in the city currently practicing restorative justice.
“I just liked the idea of these different programs coming together and creating awareness on restorative justice,” Lissa Desureault of the PAGC justice unit says. “Restorative justice is basically dealing with criminal charges out of court and hopefully steering away from the formal court system and dealing with stuff in the community.”
She says many of these programs are successful in keeping people out of the court system and criminal record free.
The conference featured presentations by a judge, the chief of police, the Prince Albert Métis Women’s Association and the Salvation Army’s STOPLift program.
The keynote speaker for the day was Shannon Moroney, bestselling author of “Through the Glass.”
Moroney spoke about her journey of healing from an abusive husband.