Cumberland Community Alternatives Society is a volunteer organization providing community based services to youth and adults in conflict with the law, and at risk youth, in Cumberland County. The agency also provides service to victims of crime.  

Cumberland Community Alternatives Society contracts with the Nova Scotia Department of Justice to offer three programs. These include Restorative Justice, Community Service Orders, and Fine Option.

Restorative Justice is a way of thinking about crime and conflict. In general, Restorative Justice models focus on holding the offender accountable in a more meaningful way, reintegrating the offender into the community, and achieving a sense of healing for both the victim and the community.

Under Restorative Justice, crime is seen as a harm done to victims and communities. The victim is central to the process of defining the harm and how it might be repaired.

Cumberland Community Alternatives Society will utilize one of several Restorative Justice models depending on the specifics of the case. These models will include:

1. Community Justice Forum
2. Sentencing or Healing Circles
3. Victim-Offender Mediation
4. Accountability Conference

Referrals will come to the agency at the following entry points:

1. Pre-charge (police entry point)
2. Post-charge (crown entry point)
3. Post-conviction/pre-sentence (referral by judges)
4. Corrections (referral by Correctional Service or Victim's Services)

The Community Service Order Program is available to youths aged 12 to 17 years. Youths are referred to this program by the Youth Justice Court judge. Community Service Work may or may not be a part of a probation order. Placements for youth are arranged in the communities in which they live. Placements should be non-profit, publicly funded or community based organizations. Should the youth not complete their community service hours, they may be referred back to Youth Justice Court and face separate charges under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

CCAS uses volunteers as Restorative Justice facilitators and as community representatives. Volunteers are trained in several different areas including the Youth Criminal Justice Act, facilitation, working with victims of crime, and case supervision.

Potential volunteers are checked through CPIC, the Child Abuse Registry, and personal references. Applications can be obtained by emailing or calling  the office.  

Our society depends on community participation to ensure the success of the program.

Funding for the Society comes from the Nova Scotia Department of Justice, fund raising, and various grants.

Cumberland Community Alternatives Society is directed by a volunteer board of directors. The agency currently employs three full- time staff and utilizes on average 20 volunteers.

Director: Jennifer Furlong (jenniferfurlong@eastlink.ca)
Caseworker: Sheri MacDonald (sheribrown@eastlink.ca)
Assistant Caseworker: Julie Ripley-Gould (jdripley@eastlink.ca)