The Office of the Deputy Governor has announced it is set to host a Restorative Justice and Pathways Conference from 5 to 16 October, 2026, marking significant progress toward delivering on a commitment made at the 2025 Virgin Islands Anti Crime Summit to formally introduce a Restorative Justice Programme to The Virgin Islands. The Conference will be executed in two parts, focusing on the Criminal Justice and the Education Systems, respectively.

The Conference will bring 14 internationally recognised experts on Restorative Justice to the Territory and will feature guests including The Right Honourable Dame Janice M Pereira, His Lordship the Hon. Justice Alvin Pariagsingh of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, Her Ladyship the Hon. Justice Angelica Teelucksingh along with leaders from the Government of the Virgin Islands.

Deputy Governor Mr. David D. Archer, Jr. said that the initiative is a vital step in addition to the legislative work undertaken throughout the year. “The Office of the Deputy Governor has done significant work in Restorative Justice since making our commitment at The Virgin Islands Anti Crime Summit last year. We are completing drafting instructions for a comprehensive piece of legislation on the subject, and this conference will stand as an incredible learning opportunity for over 300 public officers and members of the community. Our intention is for as many stakeholders as possible to be in the rooms and learn about how they can impact change in our communities through Restorative Justice.”

From 5-8 October, public officers in various departments will attend sessions centred around criminal justice and from 12-16 October, a number of educators will engage in sessions aimed at introducing restorative justice into classrooms and the wider Education System, while a smaller group of educators will be engaged in a targeted training, after which they will be officially certified.

Among the planned sessions are Strenghtening Victim Voice, Community Partnership in Justice and Prevention, Youth Justice, Sustaining Justice Reform and Building Restorative Classrooms.

The community is encouraged to remain connected with official channels for further updates on the conference and for opportunities to attend sessions.
The Office of the Deputy Governor remains committed to supporting the administration of justice in The Virgin Islands and to introducing an effective Restorative Justice programme to the Territory.