The Bridge Hamilton
About Us
The Bridge is a registered charity that, for nearly 30 years, has provided services for men who have been incarcerated, to enable their rehabilitation and reintegration into the community. Located at 319 Barton Street East, Bridge House provides transitional housing for up to six men at a time, as well as practical, emotional and physical support through in-house programs, group meetings and one-on-one interactions with both resident and non-resident ex-offenders, in order to improve their life skills and access to training, education and work opportunities. The Bridge also facilitates a Family Support Group, to address the needs of the hidden victims of incarceration— the family members who must deal with the financial and social consequences of the jailing of a loved one. Restorative Justice is the philosophy under which we operate.
Restorative Justice Practices
Since its inception, the Bridge Program has operated under the principles of Restorative Justice. This has been defined in an article by Rev. Rod Carter, Chaplain in Corrections Canada, as “Restorative Justice is addressing the hurts and needs of the victims and the hurts and needs of the offenders in such a way that they and the community are healed.” (1.)
Howard Zehr in ‘The Little Book of Restorative Justice” states:“Restorative Justice requires, at minimum, that we address victims’ harms and needs, hold offenders accountable to put right those harms, and involves victims, offenders, and communities in the process.” (2.)
The difference in the present justice system and the philosophy of Restorative Justice are shown in the following questions:
Criminial Justice
What laws have been broken?
Who didi it?
What do they deserve?
Restorative Justice
Who has been hurt?
What are their needs?
Whose obligations are these? (3.)
Most legal cases are decided on the strict rule of law. Restorative Justice requires instead a decision based on what is fair and just, given the circumstances. It is a process in which all parties come together to share and resolve issues through the values of healing, participation, truth-telling, mutual care, reconciliation, and peacemaking. Restorative Justice will not replace the present retributive and rehabilitative justice systems, but could affect both the victims and offenders to help them transform their lives.
The principles of Restorative Justice should pervade all interactions among the Bridge Board of Directors, staff and clients. This means that “opportunities for exchange of information, participation, dialogue, and mutual consent” (4.) should be the basis of these interactions.
There are many more articles on Restorative Justice in the files of The Bridge under the title of the same name.
- Carter, Rod, quoted in the United Church Observer
- Zehr, Howard, The Little Book of Restorative Justice (Intercourse, PA.Good Books,2002), p. 25
- ibid. p. 21
- ibid, p. 67
Howard Zehr in ‘The Little Book of Restorative Justice” states:“Restorative Justice requires, at minimum, that we address victims’ harms and needs, hold offenders accountable to put right those harms, and involves victims, offenders, and communities in the process.” (2.)
The difference in the present justice system and the philosophy of Restorative Justice are shown in the following questions:
Our Work
a) Type of people we work with: Provincial area mostly, and mostly with men.
b) Self-Help Groups
- Clients Groups led by volunteers and Executive Director.
- Family Support Group – led by volunteers.
c) Reintegration Support Services
- Discharge Planning Services, coordinated by Discharge Planner
- Transitional Housing, coordinated by Discharge Planner and Executive Director
- Case Management, coordinated by Executive Director
Our Mission
Our Vision
To facilitate community reintegration and reconciliation for men in the justice system and their families through advocacy, education and restorative justice.
Our Core Values
- We believe in the commitment of staff to promote for the growth and accountability of our clients.
- We believe that our programs will contribute to the well-being of the community.
- We believe in volunteers who will provide compassionate support for the reintegration of clients into the community.
- We believe in challenging the community to become a welcoming, understanding place.
- We believe in a volunteer Board of Directors to embrace the vision and values of the Bridge, and also the requirements of various levels of government and outside agencies.
Client Testimonial
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