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Lanark County Community Justice continues to try and steer young adults away from jail and into restorative practices.
Board Member Marilyn Bird says these efforts are also made elsewhere with convicted felons, which provides closure.
Bird says there’s been a worrying trend in the crimes they’re seeing.
She also noted that a criminal record at a young age puts an individual behind.
According to Bird, restorative justice programs average a recidivism rate of five to eight percent, compared to 30% for those who go through the court system.
They dealt with about 50 individuals in 2024.
Story by Grant Deme
