CCJC Member Profile
Bob Russell
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Bob Russell became a member of The Church Council on Justice and Corrections (CCJC) in 2006, the same year he retired after giving 29 years of service as part of the Ontario Public Service.
"I have had an awareness of CCJC for several years. I belong to St. Luke’s Anglican Church, Palmero in Oakville, Ontario and I wanted to stay informed on criminal justice matters from a Christian point of view."
Bob worked in the Ontario Correctional Service in a variety of front-line positions:
- Correctional Officer at the Metro Toronto Forensic Service, Mimico Correctional Centre and Maplehurst Correctional Complex;
- Acting Control Supervisor at Ontario Correctional Institute (OCI) Brampton;
- Provincial Bailiff responsible for the transportation of offenders across the province;
- Program Coordinator at the Ontario Parole Board.
In a Community Engagement testimonial for Bridge-Hamilton, Bob writes that he first became aware of The Bridge in 1977 as a young Correctional Officer. This faith-based program befriends offenders within the Ontario Correctional Institute as well as when they are released into the community. Volunteers provide a lot of emotional support and encouragement, as well as helping Bridge participants to find ways to live pro-social lifestyles. (https://hamilton-bridge.ca/bob-russell)
"Previously, I served as the Community Advisor, for two years, at the Bridge-Hamilton, Ontario. They provide transitional housing and programming to ex-offenders from Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre. I also advise Bridges' Board of Directors on matters relating to the criminal justice system."
Bob notes that Bridges recently started programming for ex-offenders from Maplehurst Correctional Complex in Milton, Ontario.
"What impresses me most of this non-profit organization is their ability to do all of this work in the community on a tight budget. In recent months, their active Board of Directors has recognized the need to seek out other sources of income to meet their ongoing expenses. Besides this, they are actively seeking out partnerships in the community and raising their profile." (https://hamilton-bridge.ca/bob-russell)
Bob completed Restorative Justice (RJ) training with the Metro Toronto Police about three years ago and is committed to Restorative Justice principles. He enjoys attending RJ conferences in Canada and the US.
During his employment and now, in his retirement, Bob has held a number of volunteer positions in criminal justice related organizations including being active within the Ontario Association of Corrections and Criminology, as a Board Member and the Editor of OACC's newsletter for 11 years; serving as a Committee Chair for a Restorative Justice conference hosted by Bridge-Hamilton in 2017; as a Board Member and as the Chair, Public Relations Sub-committee for Toronto and Regional Crime Stoppers (Peel).
Bob and his wife, Wendy, live in Oakville, Ontario and enjoy being snowbirds in Florida.
Membership in CCJC is open to anyone who supports the organization’s mission, mandate, and values, and who supports the CCJC through a donation.
For more information, go to https://ccjc.ca/become-a-member/
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A Very Special Happy Father's Day
to our DAD HEROS
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How would you wish your dad a Happy Father's Day if he was in prison?
This is the type of situation that our friends at the Canadian Families and Corrections Network (CFCN) think about.
CFCN applied to The Movember Foundation (
https://ca.movember.com/
) in 2016 and asked to research what types of parenting programs men residing in penal institutions wanted to help them with social connectedness and living better lives. The research identified some interesting information:
- Men believe that they don't "connect" as well as women; they don't talk about issues that they are facing.
- There are two high-pressure ages in men’s lives: 1) the 18-24 year range, as young men work to define who they are through friends, employment and interests, etc. and 2) those over 75 who are at a higher risk of being lonely. As a result of this pressure, men experience a lot of anxiety during those years.
- Men felt at a loss as to how to talk to their kids about all kinds of things but especially about their incarceration. Men also had difficulty in expressing their desire that their kids not end up in a penal institution.
- Men didn't know which child development stages happened at which ages.
- Men couldn't identify what were the important things happening in their kid's life because they don't see or talk to their kid every day.
- Men had problems figuring out how to co-parent while incarcerated.
With this research, a gap was identified. While there are numerous parenting projects available to families, there was no parenting curriculum specifically written for incarcerated men. Dad HERO was created to fill this gap.
CFCN's Executive Director, Louise Leonardi states: I am so grateful to The Movember Foundation. Not only did they fund us to do research and then build a curriculum, they designed the Dad HERO logo and they are conducting a formal evaluation of the project.
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Dad HERO (Helping Everyone Realize Opportunities) is the
only parenting course in Canada developed for incarcerated dads. Dad HERO was recently acknowledged as a "Best Practice" by Canada’s Office of the Correctional Investigator.
The eight-week Dad HERO curriculum is designed to facilitate connections with family and children to build resiliency for the journey of incarceration and reintegration and to help reduce re-offending. With this curriculum, dads have the chance to become better dads to their children and to stay positively connected with their co-parents. Some of the topics discussed include developmental stages of children, co-parenting and custody, discipline and communication. Ultimately, Dad HERO creates the opportunity to focus on the gifts that dads have to share with their families as they aspire to be a hero.
Once the dads have completed the curriculum, they have the opportunity to attend a Prison Dad Group. The Dad Group is a continuation of the resiliency building which helps the dads make it through their stay in prison. The Dad Group is also a positive initiative that the dads can discuss with their kids.
Once the dads leave prison, there are Dad Groups in high prison release site communities. These "outside" Dad Groups assist the dads to continue to support each other and to build the resiliency necessary for reintegration into their families and communities.
With their partners all across Canada, and funding support from The Movember Foundation, Canadian Families and Corrections Network (CFCN) has been running the Dad HERO curriculum and facilitating Dad Groups in five medium and minimum federal institutions, one Ontario provincial jail and in communities across Canada for several months now.
Louise commented that "working with partners is integral as they are the experts in their own communities so they know how best to help with reintegration and where to find services. I found like-minded partners who cared about these men and CFCN shared our funding from The Movember Foundation with these partners to ensure the success of Dad HERO and Dad Groups. At the same time, these funds help to build the capacity of our partners."
Response from both participants in the Dad HERO program and facilitators has been extremely positive:
- Men are saying: 'I have better communication points through phone calls and letters as well as realizing I have to earn back trust and rebuild the relationship between my children and me.’
- Facilitators are saying: ‘Most of the men mention that the Dad HERO project is the only one that allows them to have a kind of mental escape since it's the only moment while being in prison that they don't hear people remind them of the crime they committed.’
The Canadian Families and Corrections Network firmly believes that it is possible to be a good dad, even when you are in prison!
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Louise Leonardi has been the Executive Director of the Canadian Families and Corrections Network for seven years. Prior to arriving at CFCN, Louise was immersed in work with vulnerable populations.
"Everything at CFCN is tied to restorative justice", states Louise.
Louise has been one of five provincial restorative trainers in New Brunswick who bring RJ principles and practices to various clients including the RCMP. She also works closely with Correctional Service Canada's Restorative Opportunities program. In addition, Louise volunteered with the Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) through Correctional Service Canada. In this role, Louise visited correctional institutions, advised and assisted wardens, liaised with the public and acted as a "go-between" for the institution and the community. Louise spent 12 years with the CAC, including as the CAC Chair at Westmorland Institution in New Brunswick.
"The work that I do now, at CFCN, is different every day. There are a lot of different things going on: different projects, policy development, listening to people and the ideas they have, considering what families and children need, creating resources. Mostly I'm thinking about how CFCN can give families and children what they need to help them through the journey of incarceration."
Louise takes her responsibilities seriously. CFCN is the only national organization looking after families and children, and she talks about how having someone in your family in custody creates many hardships and a dynamic dramatically different from other family situations.
When asked what the hardest part of her job is, Louise immediately identifies advertising.
"How and where do you advertise when you don't yet know who the next family to be affected by incarceration resides? In so many cases, someone in the family gets into trouble and the family can't find anyone to help, counsel, support or walk them through the criminal justice system."
Check out CFCN's website (
https://www.cfcn-rcafd.org/
) for other innovative programs and services including the three children’s storybooks and the Dead Ball Specialist comic book.
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Upcoming Events
Save the Date!
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7th National Association of Community and Restorative Justice Conference:
"Elevating Justice: Widening the Circle"
Denver, Colorado
June 14-16, 2019
Justice encompasses how we live together in peace with dignity and respect for one another despite our differences. It encompasses how we respond to harms and address inequities and injustice. It includes how our institutions relate to us, individually and collectively, in respectful and constructive ways.
The 7th NACRJ Conference focuses on elevating this broader meaning of justice by intentionally widening the circle of engagement in meaningful ways that welcome the voices of victims, formerly incarcerated, LGTBQ, racial, ethnic minorities and others, as we promote safe, just, equitable and sustainable communities and institutions in the U.S. and around the world.
http://www.restorativejustice.nyc/events/2018/6/14/national-community-and-restorative-justice-conference
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International Institute for Restorative Practices - USA
- Nashville, Tennessee — June 18-21, 2019
- San Francisco Bay Area, California - June 24-27, 2019
- Bethlehem, Pennsylvania - July 13-21 (two weekends)
- Los Angeles, California - July 15-18
- Seattle, Washington - July 15-18
- Napa, California - July 15-18
- Chicago, Illinois - July 22-25
- Bethlehem, Pennsylvania - July 8-10
- Bethlehem, Pennsylvania - July 11-12
- Bethlehem, Pennsylvania - July 15-16
- Bethlehem, Pennsylvania - July 15-16
- Bethlehem, Pennsylvania - July 17-18
https://www.iirp.edu/continuing-education/professional-development
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Summer Schools
Barcelona, July 2-5, 2019
Criminal Justice Summer Course 2019
The Criminal Justice Platform Europe (CJPE) is launching the 3rd International Criminal Justice Summer Course in Barcelona entitled “Criminal Justice in a Polarised Society“.
Gdansk, July 22-26, 2019
EFRJ Summer School 2019
The EFRJ Summer School 2019 will be dedicated to reflecting on and practicing a more child-friendly RJ. Last seats available!
http://www.euforumrj.org/subject/summer/
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International Institute of Restorative Practices - Europe
Facilitating Restorative Conferences
Oldham, England
July 30 - August 1, 2019
Learn to facilitate restorative conferences, in which everyone impacted by wrongdoing can share how they have been affected and have a say in how to repair the harm. This formal circle is used to address negative incidents and fosters more positive outcomes than mere punishment, in education, criminal justice, youth work, organizational and other settings. Our 3-day Skills Training prepares participants to run restorative justice conferences and to use restorative practices in their everyday roles.
https://web.cvent.com/event/c324ac55-caa6-44d7-a8f7-83ee7a5ed94b/summary?Refid=alllist
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IIRP World Conference
Bethlehem, PA
October 21-23, 2019
https://www.iirp.edu/education-programs/conferences-and-symposia
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Restorative Practices Conference
Restorative Practices in Schools, Communities, and the Justice System
Kearney Hall, St. John Fisher College
Rochester, NY
Saturday, October 26, 2019
8:30-5:00
Keynote speakers: Lauren Abramson and Danielle Ponder
For questions, call (585) 473-0970 or email office@pirirochester.org
www.pirirochester.org
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Congress 2019
November 6-9, 2019
Hôtel Le Concorde/
Concorde Hotel, Quebec City
Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Canadian Criminal Justice Association
Make plans to attend this event, learning and networking opportunity, meeting professionals like you who work to improve our communities. You will have an opportunity to discuss the most recent research results, share best practices and create partnerships in various aspects of criminal justice.
Registration and Program:
https://www.ccja-acjp.ca/pub/en/news/congress-2019-programme-in-brief/
Hotel Details:
To reserve by phone please mention Congress 2019:
100 Years of Criminal Justice- folio #568394
Website:
To reserve online:
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2019 National Restorative Justice Symposium
Banff, Alberta
November 17 to 19, 2019
The Alberta Restorative Justice Association is excited to announce that we are hosting the 2019 National Restorative Justice Symposium.
Subscribe to ARJA's social media or email list via
www.arja.ca
for future conference updates and announcements!
National Restorative Justice Week runs from November 17 to 23, 2019
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3rd Nepal Conference on Restorative Justice
Kathmandu
November 27-29, 2019
http://nepaljustice.org/announcing-third-nepal-conference-on-restorative-justice-2019/
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Restorative Justice Resources
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Free resource guide: "
Serving Crime Victims Through Restorative Justice
", Catherine Bargen, Alan Edwards, Matthew Hartman, Jennifer Haslett, Aaron Lyons. Published by the Alberta Restorative Justice Association (ARJA), with support of the Department of Justice Canada
A fantastic
restorative justice library
and database of over 12,000 abstracts, Centre for Justice & Reconciliation, Prison Fellowship International
Courses, projects and resources like an internet journal available from
RJ4All
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It's been awhile! We highlighted four Board members between January and April 2018, however, with the September 2018 Annual General Meeting, we have more Board members for you to meet.
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"The People of CCJC" videos feature the hardworking, heart-centred folks who are actively working with CCJC to make a difference. This month's video highlights the work and contributions of Yves Racicot.
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“Never forget that justice is what love looks like in public.”
Dr. Cornel West
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