WHEREAS community accountability programs provide timely alternative and cost effective means in promoting restorative justice and preventing offending behavior in low risk youth and adult offenders; AND WHEREAS community accountability programs receive insufficient funding from the provincial government: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities request the Ministry of Public Safety and the Solicitor General to provide an adequate level of funding for community accountability programs throughout the province at a level that provides for sustainability of the ongoing operation expenses of these programs.
MINISTRY OF PUBLIC SAFETY SOLICITOR GENERAL The Province recognizes the value that Community Accountability Programs provide in building safer communities. These programs hold low risk, youth and adult offenders accountable for their actions, give victims a voice, repair the harm caused by an offence and help to restore balance in the community. Programs are supported in advancing restorative justice in communities throughout B.C. through information, resources, provincial coordination and funding. The Province continues to support over 50 Community Accountability Programs across B.C. 150,000 has been identified for this purpose in 2009-10. Funding of up to 2500 will be available to each program. This contribution is intended to help local, volunteer-based programs offset the costs of activities such as volunteer training, volunteer recognition and to support administrative and operational costs. In addition, programs have continued to be eligible to apply for project funding under the Civil Forfeiture Crime Prevention and Crime Remediation Grant Funding Program. Restorative justice programs in 11 communities have benefited from 159,000 in grant funding since March 2008.