Jason Unrau
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Nov 25/05) - When two boys who stole snowmobiles from James Day's Westwind Recreation lot three years ago turned up at his shop to fulfil their community service hours, it marked the beginning of Day's involvement in helping troubled youth back onto the right path.

Westwind Recreation owner James Day has helped many Inuvik youth fulfil their community service hours and taught them a little about small engine repair and maintenance, and a little about responsibility as well. - Jason Unrau/NNSL photo

"The first two boys we got were the kids who stole those machines," Day recalled.

"For them it was an awkward start (to their community service), but everybody gets to be like family here when you start working together."

And since then, Day has given many other youth who've run into trouble with the law an opportunity to abide by their sentence and learn a some useful skills.

"I try to help them out, you know, teach them some things, get them working on engines," he said. "And they show a lot of interest and many would be good mechanics."

"James Day over at Westwind and Derrick Weitzel (Weitzel Construction) have been great," said Inuvik's Community Justice Co-ordinator Howie Young. "And more people like them are needed."

In addition to helping probationary services clients meet their community service hours, Young's job is to help those diverted from the trial and sentencing process of the court system make amends through a restorative justice approach.

It is at the discretion of the RCMP who will face a judge or will go through the restorative justice model, said Young. Generally the decision is based on the nature of the crime and if the person has been charged previously.

"The RCMP are mandated to look at restorative justice when they make an arrest," said Young. "Often a verbal warning is given, parents are informed but basically it's for a first-time offence."

Once diverted to Community Justice, the perpetrator must face a "jury" of peers and confront the impact his or her actions have had and come to some agreement on how to rectify the situation.

"Based on an aboriginal model of justice, circle sentencing is the best way to describe it," explained Young. "(It involves) the victim, family members from both sides, elders and (Criminal Justice) board members."

Chair of the Justice Committee, Alana Mero, said taking responsibility is the primary focus of the program. "For any client involved in the system, they haven't really taken responsibility for themselves or their actions," she said.

"They often don't understand the consequences of their actions and lack the life skills to do so."

Back at Westwind Recreation, talk turns to the rash of snowmobile thefts and the fact Day had three machines go missing at the beginning of the season (all have since been found and returned). Despite this, Day says he will continue his involvement with community justice work.

"That won't deter me from helping the youth because I see the changes (of kids working here)," he said.

Typically, the youth who turn up at Day's shop for their community service are boys aged 14 to 18. Their hours are usually completed in a series of four-hour shifts.

"One fellow just loved it here, he'd come in at nine and wouldn't leave until five," recalled Day of one client who still keeps in touch. "He calls once in a while to ask how things are and if there's any work for him."

Day says the boy is planning to further his education in the trades and likes to think he had a small part in helping him find his niche.

"That feels good."