Yellowknife (Sep 03/04) - A saying from Greek antiquity tells us to "Do justice, and let the skies fall." What it doesn't tell us is what justice is or how it ought to be done.

If such questions interest you, you might get some answers from Julie McNeice, a Yellowknifer who recently completed her Masters degree at Royal Roads University in Victoria, B.C.

McNeice will present her MA thesis, Bridging Restorative Justice and Crime Prevention through Social Development, in the Great Hall of the Legislative Assembly Sept. 8, from 7-9 p.m.

For her thesis, McNeice conducted several interviews and held focus groups in an effort to "(investigate) the opportunity to improve linkages between restorative justice and crime prevention through social development by defining them and exploring their inter-relationships."

The results of her study "will help bridge the information gap between the two social development approaches," McNeice claims.

"It may lead to the real possibility of permanent positive change to improve social cohesion in (Yellowknife)," she added.

McNeice defines restorative justice as "a process whereby all the parties with a stake in a particular offence come together to resolve collectively how to deal with the aftermath of the offence and its implications for the future."

She added that she supports restorative measures -- "They have a better chance of changing a person than putting them through the court system."

McNeice's presentation is sponsored by the Northern director of the National Crime Prevention Centre of Canada.