Pembroke Hall Residents To Be Sensitised About Restorative Justice

Over the next few months, residents of Pembroke Hall in Kingston will benefit from sensitisation efforts to increase awareness on the offerings of the community’s new Restorative Justice Centre. The new centre, which was officially opened on February 1, was one of the highlights of this year’s Restorative Justice Week of Activities, staged from January 30 to February 5.

Restorative Justice Coordinator, Andriene Lindsay, said familiarising residents of the community with restorative justice as a tool to resolve conflict is a critical first step.

“The initial plan for the Centre is sensitisation for at least the first three months. We want to ensure that community members are aware of the service that we offer and the benefits to the community. For the first 90 days, it will just be about sensitising the community, the police, all the stakeholders locally before we start receiving referrals and taking a more kind of micro approach,” she told JIS News in an interview.

Ms. Lindsay noted that a resident’s request for the Restorative Justice Centre in the community was pivotal in its establishment.

“She reached out to Restorative Justice, because she heard about us, and she really wanted to make a difference in the community. For this year, the theme for Restorative Justice is Crime Prevention through Restorative Justice is everybody’s business. She made it her business and now we are one step closer to reducing crimes and conflicts in these and surrounding communities,” she said.

Restorative justice can be used to de-escalate rising tension as well as resolve conflicts by addressing matters with the involvement of those wronged, the accused and community members impacted.

Work on the new Pembroke Hall Restorative Justice Centre began in November 2021 and was completed in February.

“I must commend the Ministry of Justice and our project team, the contractor, everyone who worked on the project. We are only offering restorative justice services at this time. We have a restorative justice officer and community liaison officer as well, both already employed. We’ll also have an intern and our office attendant,” she said.

The Centre boasts a multipurpose room, restorative justice meeting/circle room, administrative office and bathroom.

Meanwhile, community member, Sabrina Smith, is grateful for the establishment of the Centre.

“All of this means a lot to me because so many times we have had very small situations turning into very violent ones, and you know, it can all turn out very differently. That’s why I think a centre like this will be very beneficial, so the neighbour who has a situation with their wall, clothesline, landlord or tenant, they don’t have to stab each other to death because of those simple situations,” she said.

Ms. Smith also said the Centre will give persons the opportunity to learn more about how restorative justice can improve their relationships with the persons around them.

“I think approaching crime from a social level like this can truly make a difference. We have so many domestic violence issues and community-level crimes that this centre will really help to alleviate,” she explained.

Ms. Smith is also looking forward to the sensitisation efforts, which, she believes, will be effective in cementing the potential value of Restorative Justice in the community.

“Restorative Justice will make a difference. Like with many other things, people will take time to get used to it as information is disseminated. I think they will get used to it and utilise it a lot. It’s just a matter of feeling safe, feeling comfortable. I believe this is what restorative justice offers – a safe space where people can resolve their issues in a healthy manner,” she said.