The Elmira Case Documentary

How a drunken rampage changed legal history.

“The Elmira Case” documents the actions of an inspiring probation officer, a forward thinking judge, two wayward youth willing to take responsibility for their actions, and a community willing to forgive. Together they transform the way conflict is resolved and ignite a worldwide restorative justice movement that has impacted more than 50 countries.

Included with purchase

1. Elmira Case Documentary (16 min)
Telling the story of the case that started the modern restorative justice movement – the case itself, the story of Russell Kelly, one of the perpetrators, and others involved.

2. What is Restorative Justice (2:30 min)
A concise and engaging breakdown of what exactly restorative justice is, and why it matters.

3. Restorative Justice Case Study I (3 min)
CJI facilitator, Julie Friesen, breaks down as specific case, and explains the dynamic that happened in the meeting.

4. Case Study II (4 min)
CJI Executive Director, Chris Cowie, discusses how restorative justice is used in a case involving serious violence.

5. Restorative Justice conversations (6 min)
A deeper discussion of the impact of restorative justice, why does effective, and how it could be applied in different scenarios.

About The documentary

In 1974, a drunken rampage in the small town of Elmira, Ontario, Canada sparked a change in the justice system that would have worldwide impact.

CJI partnered with Rosco films to create this documentary short detailing the events of a ground breaking criminal case and an important piece of local history that has had far-reaching impact on the Canadian criminal justice system and of the world.

Garnering international attention, the Elmira Case played at the Peace on Earth film festival in Chicago, USA and the 2015 Northeast Asia Regional Peacebuilding Institute. It has been purchased by organizations in Kenya, Taiwan, Europe, the United States and across Canada.

“I see crime as sort of the tear in the fabric of community… it’s just been torn, it leaves jagged edges. So then you kind of try to piece it back together, and with the needle and thread as you were to kind of allow the fabric of community be strengthen but it’s not pretty; it’s not like it was before… you can never undo what’s been done but it gives you some sense that we as a community can do some patch work, patch things up. And not in a superficial way, but in a way that gives us sense of closure and hope built around what has happened”

– The Elmira Case (2015) Canada: Rosco Films

Where are they now

Mark Yantzi

Mark Yantzi continued his work in restorative justice founding Community Justice Initiatives of Waterloo Region, Canada, and as a Restorative Opportunities Practitioner for CSC.