Restorative Justice Community Champion: Kristal Kelly
‘A ripple effect’
Kristal Kelly is deputy director of the reintegration unit for the Regina Correctional Centre (RCC). She has worked for the ministry of corrections for 35 years, mostly in the RCC but switched to reintegration two years ago and now directs a halfway house in Regina that serves up to 12 men. She is originally from Moose Jaw but calls Regina home.
Kristal understands that true rehabilitation is about healing, learning and rediscovering self-worth. Her passion, empathy and unwavering belief in second chances make her not only a leader in her field but a true inspiration to those who work alongside her.
Tell us about your work, Kristal.
My role is to help provincial adult offenders reintegrate into their communities. I review applications from Regina, Saskatoon, P.A. and White Spruce, interview candidates and decide who to accept into reduced custody, relying on information from our community partners and the correctional centre.
I put together reintegration plans when they’re approved, which includes programming to address their criminogenic needs, such as substance abuse issues. We rely heavily on community agencies like John Howard Society of Saskatchewan, Susan Almer Addiction Services and Regina Treaty Status Indian Services to help our clients. We also connect guys with education and employment training through SIIT, Ignite and Work Prep.
While they’re here, the men can apply to go home for a weekend to be with family. They have access to the community and can attend appointments.
What do you find most rewarding about your work?
I get to see guys in a different light here and get to see the success that you don’t see in a correctional centre. We see them complete programs in the community, go to school, take training, find employment, move into a safe place and hopefully maintain connections with agencies, like John Howard Society.
We have a number of residents who’ve come through here and will call back after their sentence is done to just say how they’re doing. The most rewarding part to me is just knowing that you’ve helped somebody and it’s not just the individual; it’s that person’s family, their children and their community. There’s a ripple effect.
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
I like to travel a lot and hang out with friends and family. Doing things close to home mostly, BBQs, things like that.
What do you want people in your community to know about restorative justice work?
Success looks different for different people, even for repeat offenders. We need to consider the length of time between incarceration, if offences are lessening in severity, were they able to attend community programs/treatment, counselling, find stable housing, maintain sobriety or employment, etc. Helping offenders reintegrate gives them their best chance to succeed. In the end we want to promote healthy, safe communities and that can start by helping one person.
