by P.J. Harston
Northern News Services

NNSL (DEC 06/96) - A fund that collects money from Northern criminals surpassed the $100,000 mark in 1994-95 and began the last fiscal year more than $40,000 in the black.

The numbers are contained in the Victims Assistance Committee Annual Report, tabled in the legislative assembly recently, but was prepared more than a year ago. In her report, committee chairwoman Thelma Tees said priorities were changing to keep the bulk of funds working closer to home.

"Our new priority this year will be the recommending of contributions for community-based projects or workshops dealing with victim and healing issues," Tees said in the report.

In the past, the committee has spent considerable sums sending Northerners to southern conferences and workshops.

The report states that the committee began the fiscal year -- April 1, 1994 to March 31, 1995 -- with a $3,000 deficit.

However, the injection of $47,000 from territorial fine surcharges and $65,000 from federal surcharges, coupled with only $63,000 in disbursements, left the committee with a surplus.

The territorial assistant deputy minister of justice, Nora Sanders, said it's not unusual to finish one year with a deficit and the next with a surplus.

"This fund is quite unique in comparison to other government funds, where money left over stays with the fund and is carried over to the next year.

"If there is a substantial amount of money remaining, it can often be earmarked for a bigger project the following year," said Sanders.

She added that the size of the fund fluctuates greatly from year to year, given judges' discretion to levy varying surcharges.

Under the territorial Victims of Crime Act, any adult convicted of an offence is required to pay a surcharge of not more than 20 per cent of their fine -- or $25 if no fine is imposed -- into the fund.

A judge may waive or reduce the surcharge under hardship conditions.

Money collected in the fund must be used for the promotion and delivery of victim services, research into those services, information on victims rights and services and expenses for the committee that oversees the fund.

Nearly 30 organizations shared more than $63,000 in project support, the report says.

Those projects ranged from a study to investigate options for changing the sexual assault kit used in prosecuting accused sex abusers to sending crisis and counselling staff members to workshops across Canada.

Nearly $20,000 went towards projects and services designed for or based out of Yellowknife.

Under the rules of the fund, any person, organization or institution may submit a proposal for funding to the committee. However, priority is given to non-government, non-profit organizations that directly support or assist victims of crime.

Recommendations to accept applications for funding are forwarded from the victims assistance committee to the minister of justice for final approval.

Sanders said the report for the committee's last operating year -- now operating under new chairwoman Gail Sear -- has yet to be tabled in the legislature.