Community Healing Processes: Investments and Benefits

• NCJ Number: 194156
• Author(s): Ed Buller
• Date Published: October 2001
• Length: 27 pages
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description; Conference Material
• Language: English
• Country: Australia
• Note: Paper presented at the Best Practice Interventions in Corrections for Indigenous People Conference, Sydney, Australia, October 8-9, 2001; downloaded February 5, 2002.

Annotation

This paper summarizes two research studies on the costs and benefits of community-healing models in the Canadian Indigenous communities of Hollow Water First Nation (Manitoba) and the Mnjikaning First Nation (Ontario).

Abstract

These two Ojibway First Nation communities have established healing processes that work with victims of crime, victimizers, and their families in a holistic manner. The Community Holistic Circle Healing (CHCH) process in Hollow Water is arguably the most mature process in Canada, having been established in 1985. It focuses on the healing process for child abuse. Biidaaban healing process in Mnjikaning has been operating for less than 5 years, but has shown significant success as it has patterned itself after the CHCH program. The research studies focused on the effectiveness of these healing processes and their outcomes. Open-ended written interviews were designed and conducted in the community and with CHCH and Biidaaban workers, who cross-checked the information. Field work was undertaken to develop a compilation of victimizers diverted to the community processes, patterns of disclosure, recidivism validation through the Correctional Service of Canada's Offender Management System, age breakdown, total number of victimizers charged, victimizer crimes, and the typical incarceration times for these crimes. The two programs involve healing processes that can be considered diversion programs that enable the victimizer to remain in the community, while participating in an intensive healing process in which the victimizers are both accountable to the community and have an opportunity for sustainable holistic personal change. The research has shown that community healing processes have the potential to use traditional values, culture, and spiritual practices to improve treatment for offenders, their victims, families, and the community. The research also points to the value to governments in the improved cost-effectiveness of community healing processes. 4 tables and appended outline of the 13-step healing process used in the two programs