How restorative justice could change sexual assault cases in the NWT

At a conference on restorative justice in Toronto last month, survivors of sexual violence described it as a transformative process for them – and for the offenders.

“My assailant went to therapy for about seven months, and we eventually met in a facilitated circle,” said Marlee Liss at the conference.

“It was a circle that changed everyone’s lives. It was healing in a way that blew my mind. It was the opposite of the courtroom in terms of being trauma-informed. The way that I walked out feeling was opposite to the courtroom as well.

“I felt like I let go of, like, 100 lb of trauma and just experienced a sense of closure and even empowerment that I didn’t know could be possible with the justice process.”

“Basically,” she added, “I haven’t shut up about restorative justice ever since.” Link to full story here.