Established in the year 2000 by a group of concerned citizens and community leaders, the Abbotsford Restorative Justice and Advocacy Association (ARJAA) was incorporated as a non-profit society in 2001, and now serves as a Community Accountability Program under the B.C. Ministry of Public Safety and the Solicitor General.
ARJAA …- Is guided by professionals and sustained by volunteers
- Receives police referrals for children and youth
- Receives police and Crown referrals for adults
- Receives police-referred cases of neighbourhood disputes
- Works in Abbotsford schools
Based on the principles of restorative justice, Abbotsford Restorative Justice holds offenders accountable to their victims and the community and assists them to make appropriate amends and repair the harm done.
As an alternative to the criminal justice system, restorative justice provides support to both victims and offenders, allowing an incident to be resolved directly between the affected parties without going to court.
ARJAA also works with Abbotsford School District 34, delivering training in conflict resolution for staff, students and their families, and helping schools implement Restorative Action—a restorative justice program specially designed to address bullying and other forms of conflict in schools.