Kevin Wilson
Northern News Services

Cambridge Bay (Sept 03/01) - Cpl. Mark Flower believes justice must involve the community.

The 20-year veteran of the RCMP has spent the last three-and-a-half years working as a community justice facilitator, keeping offenders away from the grinding wheels of the court system.

"In 20 years of policing ... it's probably been my most gratifying time on the force," said Flower.

He was in the Kitikmeot in August, training police officers and civilians as community justice facilitators.

Community justice is a tool used to divert offenders from the court system. A trained facilitator, along with members of the community, are brought together with the offender to discuss how their crimes have affected others.

"We're not deciding whether that individual is good or bad, but rather we're looking at the behaviour and how it's affected the community," said Flower.

Five RCMP officers, seven community members, and four elders took part in the training session.

Sgt. Gary Peck, the RCMP's Cambridge Bay detachment commander, helped to get the course underway. He was pleased by the reception from the participants.

"As a detachment commander and community member, I want to have a wide range of options," said Peck.

Flower has seen it work.

"(One offender) had to talk about his behaviour and it was the first time ... he realized that it wasn't just having a good time. He got to see how it affected people," said Flower.

This is the first community justice training session held in the Kitikmeot region. The program is likely to be expanded throughout Nunavut.