Bridging Justices: A Critical Exploration of Moratoriums on Restorative and Transformative Justice for Sexual Harm in Ontario

Bridging Justices presents the perspectives of Ontario staff and volunteers within the gender-based violence (GBV) sector about access to restorative justice for sexual harm. 

The report builds on LEAF’s 2023 Avenues to Justice report that concluded that there was a need to reevaluate provincial and territorial policies limiting or prohibiting diversion under s. 717 of the Criminal Code. This includes Ontario Crown policy D.4, which prohibits the use of s. 717 – and therefore restorative justice – for all sexual offences. 

The report makes six policy recommendations: 

1. Amend Crown policy D.4 to allow diversion under s. 717 for sexual offences 
2. Provide public education on non-criminal legal options for sexual harm 
3. Conduct province-wide community consultation on restorative and transformative justice implementation 
4. Fund and launch restorative and transformative justice 3-year pilot sites for sexual harm 
5. Support Indigenous sovereignty and legal revitalization 
6. Provide sustainable provincial funding for restorative and transformative justice education and capacity building 

Download the Report Summary and Full Report. 

Le sommaire du rapport est aussi disponible en français.

Want to learn more about restorative and transformative justice? Check out our two-pager. 

This project, funded by SSHRC Partnership Engage Grant (PEG) (Application 892-2023-3010) and the McConnell Foundation, is a collaborative effort between Community Justice Initiatives (CJI) and LEAF. 

For additional information about the project please email Mandi Gray or Jessica Evans.