A court diversion process that helps reduce policing and court costs has been extended for another three years in Richmond -- no thanks to the provincial government.

The city's community safety committee Tuesday voted to extend its contract with Touchstone Family Services to continue running a Restorative Justice program for another three years.

It costs the city $95,000 a year to fund the program, which alleviates pressure on -- and reduces costs to -- the provincial court system.

The program is funded almost entirely by the city. Touchstone only gets $2,500 from the province to help recruit volunteers.

City councillors are convinced the program is a valuable part of the city's community safety program and worth funding.

"It works and we're getting good value for our money," Coun. Bill McNulty said Tuesday while responding to a staff report on the program.

The program has been running in Richmond for nearly three years now. Restorative justice is an alternative to court. To participate, the offender -- most often a youth, but sometimes an adult -- must admit guilt and be prepared to make amends.

Doing that involves meeting with the victims of the crime and listening to how the person's actions affected others. Offenders are often required to pay some form of restitution, by doing community service, for example.

The process involves no judge, no Crown or defence lawyers. Volunteer facilitators are used, so the costs are much lower than court.

While RCMP do most of the referrals, other agencies, such as schools, can also refer youth to the program.

Touchstone had 32 referrals in 2009, with 27 community justice forums completed.

Half of the participants are typically between the ages of 14 and 15.

"I find this quite alarming -- that 50 per cent are 14 and 15-year-olds," said Coun. Sue Halsey-Brandt.

Judy Valsonis, director of operations for Touchstone, said the numbers are not unusual, saying it's "an age when youth are starting to act out and test the boundaries." As for recidivism rates, Touchstone executive director Michael McCoy said it's too early to say yet whether the rates of reoffending are any lower with restorative justice than the court system. However he said rates in other jurisdictions where restorative justice has been in practise show the rates are quite low.