On the night of June 13, 2021, Ryan stumbled through the dark streets of his neighborhood, disoriented and heavily intoxicated. Mistaking a neighbor's house for his own, he banged on the door shouting to be let in. Inside, Harry was jolted awake by the noise. Alarmed and confused, Harry tried to tell Ryan to leave, but Ryan persisted. When Harry cracked open the door to confront the stranger, Ryan forced his way inside, leading to a physical altercation. Fearing for his safety, Harry grabbed a baseball bat from his bedroom and struck Ryan, giving him the chance to call 911. 

The police arrived quickly, arresting Ryan and taking him to the hospital, where he awoke, handcuffed and bewildered, with no memory of what had happened. For both Harry and Ryan, the incident left deep scars; Harry with a lingering sense of fear in his own home and Ryan with a profound sense of shame and regret. 

Through the Collaborative Justice Program (CJP), Harry and Ryan were able to share their experiences and feelings in a mediated setting. Harry expressed his fear and the trauma of having his home invaded in the middle of the night. He explained that he had only opened the door to help someone he thought was in distress, not knowing it would turn violent. Ryan listened, devastated by the impact of his actions. He shared his own confusion and regret, admitting that his excessive drinking had led to the night's chaos and promised to start counseling to address his alcohol use and prevent future incidents.  

 After pleading guilty to the breaking and entering charges, Ryan was granted a conditional discharge because of his involvement in the Collaborative Justice Program (CJP). Aware of the need to turn his life around, Ryan committed to change by attending eleven alcohol counselling sessions through his school and five additional general counselling sessions. 

CJP allowed both men to find some closure. Ryan wrote a letter of apology to Harry, expressing that “this letter reflects how very sorry I am; I hope you can feel comfortable and safe in your home again; I care about your well-being; and I wish you happiness in life”. Harry, moved by Ryan’s efforts to change, accepted the apology and wished him well in his recovery. They agreed to maintain a respectful distance, both focusing on their healing. 

Thanks to CJP, Harry and Ryan found a path toward understanding and healing, demonstrating how the Collaborative Justice Program can help people move beyond conflict and toward empathy and resolution.

Written by: Lexi Rubin