Aboriginal offenders will have the opportunity to address culturally appropriate concerns, and to heal and grow within themselves. The invasion of personal privacy, the emotional impact of the question 'Why meT, as well as the impact of property or financial loss are all significant to the victim. The duration of the recovery time may on the surface be relatively short, but historically the issues of safety, well being, and confidence in other persons linger indefinitely. Until a form of closure can be negotiated by caring individuals with the ability to act, the healing remains incomplete and the underlying emotional issues remain unresolved. The victim suffers not only from the impact of the crime against the person or property, but also a sense of personal guilt that has been implanted by the invasive aspect of the investigative and court processes.
Victimization results in loss of control of self, and one's place in society.
Day to day thoughts and feelings are engulfed in turmoil over whether you will become a victim again once the offender is released from prison. With this comes a feeling of hopelessness and helplessness that is difficult, if not impossible, to overcome. The recovery process is further jeopardized and hindered. The victim, as the one directly offended against, should be the primary focus of concern in the risk assessment criteria for the offender release planning process. The emphasis of the pilot project is to initiate a process of restoration, reconciliation, restitution, and reparation between victim and offender prior to the offender being afforded a return to the community.