The value of a program that sees offenders face their victims and make amends has gone unrecognized by the provincial government as the Restorative Justice Program in Fort St. John was denied the grant they need to continue.

The program is now facing an uncertain future because their operation already runs on minimal funding and is struggling to get support elsewhere as well.

Program Coordinator Michelle LaBoucane said that if they can’t find support elsewhere, either from the community or other levels of government, they may have to close their doors.

“Realistically, we’re a small agency and our operating costs are about $5000 per month,” said LaBoucane. “We’re hoping for a grant from the city for $25,000 and that would keep our door open for five months.”

“If we don’t have money coming in from the community, our supporters or the government, we will lose this program. We just can’t do it.”

The group is planning to appeal the grant rejection and has 30 days to do so.

“We’re all quite upset that we never received the gaming grant and we will be appealing the decision,” said North Peace Justice Society Vice-Chair Dan Davies. “There was some information that they misinterpreted, and we’re hoping that the appeal process will correct that and we can get some funding.”

Davies and LaBoucane both said that it has been a constant struggle to get the provincial government to see the value in the program, despite the fact that most municipalities, policing agencies and victimized businesses are coming forward with support.

“It’s frustrating,” said LaBoucane. “We have full RCMP endorsement and they’ve written letters of support. We have letters of support from the community. And they still don’t see the value.”

“We’ve got to somehow get the provincial government to buy in, and that’s been our biggest fight. And at the end of the day, [they are] the group that our organization benefits the most,” said Davies.

“We want the province to step up, and whether that’s through the lotteries or just a sustainable source of annual income that we can rely on, that’s what we’re looking for and what we need.”

LaBoucane said that the results of losing a program like this would be tragic for the community, and the RCMP agrees.

“This program allows us to not have to push it through the courts and have to wait a significant amount of time. It can be immediately dealt with,” said Constable Jackelynn Biller.

“Restorative justice is not a way of getting away with something. It’s a way to hold people accountable and then speak about it and enforce a punishment on them.”

The program is not for everyone, but the RCMP refer cases involving minor crimes and first-time offenders to the program as they see fit to give them an opportunity to make amends through apologies, restitution, community service or other punishments that the victim, offender and case worker deem appropriate.

“I think it’s harder because they end up directly dealing with the victim. They actually have to look that person in the eye and talk about it, which is pretty hard to do,” said Biller.

“I don’t want anybody to think that this is a soft approach on crime. Making somebody face their victim and putting a face on a crime is one of the hardest thing that anybody has to do,” said LaBoucane.

If the program were to disappear, LaBoucane explains that there would be a ripple effect that many don’t realize.

“They won’t have that opportunity to make it right. Then, they have a criminal record and they won’t be able to travel in to the United States or get in to a post-secondary school. There’s just all of those things that aren’t thought of.”

LaBoucane pointed out that it sends a bad message to youth when they’re not taught to learn from their mistakes.

Overall, the disappearance of this program would result in a larger case load moving through the already backlogged court system, longer wait times for court dates, less volunteer support in the community and less resitution for business.

Davies explained that it also represents a significant financial impact.

According to statistics provided by the North Peace Justice Society, one file being taken to court will cost approximately $268,000 in salaries alone for the five people that it takes to run it through.

Conversely, the cost to run the society for one year to complete 50 to 60 files is $68,000.

“It never ceases to amaze me that we struggle for funding so much on such an incredibly beneficial program to our region,” said Davies.

“I really do feel that there is a bright future for restorative justice, we just have to figure out how to get there.”

The group is currently seeking other avenues of funding from community partners or members and other possible grants.

They will continue to run the program until their funds run out.