After presenting twice Nationally in 2018 Travis Blaine and Michelle Funk; Mediators with Westman Mediation Service (WMS) program of The John Howard Society of Brandon were invited to speak to an International audience on their experience with Post Sentence Mediation. Restorative Justice is typically utilized for first time offenders in minor cases. In 2011, an innovative Judge in Manitoba, Canada had an idea to include the victims and the community in the justice process, following a serious crime. What followed was healing and forgiveness for the offender, victims/community, and the first of many post sentence referrals for Blaine and Funk of WMS. Due to the success of the first case in the eyes of the victims and the affected community, Judges in the Western area of Manitoba have continued to send victim offender mediation cases, post sentence to WMS. The referrals sent are serious in nature including, for example, assault with a weapon, criminal negligence causing death, and arson, etc. Too often, victims and communities are completely cut out of the justice process, often finding no avenue for healing and closure. As well, offenders find they are unable to explain their story and provide the necessary context. Restorative justice is not a new concept. It has connections to Indigenous and many other cultural traditions, which historically used forms of restorative justice to resolve community issues. What we now consider a criminal act was dealt with as a violation of people, relationships and the peace of the community as a whole. In this approach, the community considered healing, reintegration and preventing future harm to resolve the issue. Restorative justice can help address the root problems that led to a person becoming involved in criminal behaviour, with the goal of preventing future offences. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) recently highlighted that offenders may themselves be victims of historical wrongs stemming from residential schools or the Sixties Scoop. In fact, the TRC has recently charged governments across the country to find ways to reduce over-representation of Indigenous people in the justice system, as offenders and as victims. Increasing the use of restorative justice is one way to help reduce Indigenous over-representation. Blaine and Funk will deliver a breakout session at the  IIRP Europe Conference, "Community Well-Being and Resilience,” May 15-17, 2019, in Kortrijk, Belgium.  The breakout presentation is titled Post Sentence Victim Offender Mediation: A Voice For Victims and Community. The John Howard Society of Brandon maintains contracts with the Manitoba Department of Justice for the provision of restorative justice solutions through out Westman and The Parkland regions.  For more information on mediation, restorative justice or the other programming the John Howard Society of Brandon provides please contact  Ross Robinson, Executive Director at rrobinson@brandonjohnhoward.ca or 204.727.1696

The Manitoba government is launching a new fact sheet for landlords that clarifies the process for evicting tenants who are breaking the law and putting others at risk, Justice Minister Cliff Cullen announced today. “We know that landlords have for too long struggled to gather and present the evidence they need to evict drug dealers and other criminal elements from their rental properties,” said Cullen.  “The Manitoba government is committed to making our communities safer, and this new resource gives landlords the clarity and guidance they need to navigate the system quickly so they can protect their property and the safety of other tenants.” The minister said if a landlord wants to evict a tenant engaging in unlawful or unsafe activity, a hearing must be requested through the Residential Tenancies Branch (RTB).  For these types of applications, the RTB will schedule hearings on short notice.  The new Landlords’ Fact Sheet clarifies the evidence that landlords may submit to support an order of possession application.  This includes: • video, photographs or audio evidence of the incident(s) in question; • incident reports, warning letters or written confirmation from law enforcement agencies that unlawful activity is taking place in the rental unit (incident numbers are not sufficient); • any incident reports from security staff, property managers, maintenance, paramedics, fire department, health and bylaw inspectors, alarm companies or police that proves the behaviour may be escalating; • verbal or written statements from anyone who has direct knowledge of the tenant’s conduct; and • financial statements or receipts for repairs. To further assist landlords and tenants, Manitoba Justice’s Public Safety Investigation Unit (PSIU) provides dedicated support to all Manitobans who are concerned about illegal drugs and other dangerous activities occurring in their residential neighbourhoods.  The PSIU can help landlords gather the evidence necessary to secure an order of possession, the minister added. The Residential Tenancies Branch will also continue its public education outreach programs, so all Manitobans can access information on landlord and tenant rights and responsibilities.  For more information about the PSIU and resources available through the Residential Tenancies Branch, visit www.gov.mb.ca/justice/commsafe/scna.html and www.gov.mb.ca/cca/rtb/index.html. Source: Province of MB News Feed 

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On Saturday evening, a vehicle known by police to belong to a woman who is banned from the city of Brandon was observed on Creighton Blvd.  The vehicle was then stopped by police in the 2600 block of Victoria Ave and the female driver was arrested for breaching a recognizance order.  The vehicle was searched following her arrest and over 30 grams of methamphetamine was located.  The woman, a 36 year old from the RM of Woodworth, was lodged at Brandon Correctional Center and will appear in court on Sunday morning charged with Breach of Recognizance and Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking – Methamphetamine.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release At 4:45 am, officer attended a disturbance at a residence in the 400 block of Frederick St.  Several people involved in the dispute had left and were located in Rideau Park.  A male had been assaulted during the disturbance when a female struck him in the head with a bottle.  A female youth was arrested for Assault with a Weapon and Breaching an Undertaking order and lodged at Brandon Correctional Center. She will appear in court on Saturday morning.  The male was transported to BRHC for treatment of minor cuts to his head.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release At 1:40 am, officers responded to a restaurant in the 1900 block of Richmond Ave after staff reported a male was threatening them and other customers.  The male had also pulled out a knife and waved it at customers in a threatening manner.   The male, a 27 year old from Killarney, was located outside the restaurant and arrested.  He will appear in court on Saturday morning.  A 28 year old female, also from Killarney, was with man and was lodged at Brandon Correctional for Breach of Peace to be released when she is sober.