Maclom Gorrill
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Mar 08/02) - Four students are enrolled in the criminal justice program at the Inuvik campus of Aurora College.

Co-ordinator Alana Mero explained the campus offered this course once before, from January 2000 to June 2001. This time the course began last September and wraps up this June.

To enter students must have their Grade 12 English. Required courses during the program include criminology, psychology, sociology, corrections, criminal justice, community problem solving, Canadian law and legal institutions, English, and interpersonal communications.

Mero said some sessional teachers take part, and that they try to have as many local people come in as possible, even if to teach for just a few hours.

"We try to use local people and we try to use aboriginal people," Mero said.

She noted three of this year's four students are aboriginal, and that four of the five graduates of the first program were aboriginal.

"They can go and start working in the field. They'll have the education and skills to get past entry level."

Mero said there is a need for more aboriginals to reach higher positions within the justice field.

The program was adapted from the Northern justice program at Yukon College. Those who complete the course here can take a second year at Yukon College. Transfers are done on a student by student basis.

After Yukon College students can transfer to Simon Fraser University to complete a bachelor of education in criminology.

Mero said there's many openings in the justice field right now, and that all of the 2001 grads were offered work. She said this year's course is going well.

"It's a very academically challenging program. There's a lot of work, they have to do a lot of hours," Mero said.

"This is a group of students that have really risen to that challenge. They're doing great work."

Two of the students are Hilda Cazon of Fort Simpson and Josh McDonald of Yellowknife.

Cazon, 29, was taking a social work access program in Fort Smith and decided that she would gain valuable related experience by taking this program.

"The program's going well," Cazon said. "I'm learning a lot, especially with the restorative justice and how it's all interrelated."

Practical experience

The students will soon have 10 days of practicum in Inuvik, where they will spend time in different locations. They will ride along with the RCMP for one day, for example.

In May and June the students will have practical experience in various NWT locations. Cazon and McDonald, 19, are both looking forward to that.

Cazon said her practicum will take place in Fort Simpson, and that she'll probably be in probation or in the on-the-land program they offer. McDonald will work at the Yellowknife Correctional Centre.

"This way I'll get to see what it'll be like if I was working there," McDonald said. "It's not all about facts."

All the criminal justice students took in the regional justice conference, held early this month in Inuvik.

Mero, who is also chair of the Inuvik justice committee, said the conference illustrated how various aspects of the justice system operate.

"It brings back the focus of how justice committees actually operate and what their actual mandate is," Mero said.