Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Nov 23/01) - Volunteers are being sought to help out with a new program soon to be offered through the Inuvik Justice Committee.

Co-ordinator John Nash explained the committee will soon be hiring a victim services co-ordinator, who will work out of the committee's office.

The Inuvik Justice Committee has several initiatives planned in the near future in addition to its ongoing programs. John Nash is co-ordinator for the committee. Restorative Justice Week runs from Nov. 18-25. - Malcolm Gorrill/NNSL photo

The victim services co-ordinator will deal with victims of more serious crimes, like spousal assault, and will set people up for counselling and guide them through the court process.

Nash explained this person will also work with volunteers for the victim services program, which will work like the Inuvik Suicide Crisis Line, in which teams of people take turns being responsible for the line.

A cell phone has been donated through Arctic Digital and NMI Mobility.

The Inuvik Justice Committee has other projects on the go, as well. Nash said funding requests have been made so they can have more on the land camps, which they held last year.

"We send them out with elders to their camps to do some fun activities out there," Nash said.

As well, seven students from Samuel Hearne Secondary school are taking training so they can sit on a youth justice committee. Nash pointed out that the committee offers the alternative program and the diversion program on an ongoing basis.

The alternative program allows for an adult or young offender who does not have a criminal record to avoid going to court, upon agreeing to certain conditions.

Nash explained in the diversion program, offenders meet with their victims to gain a better understanding of the consequences of their actions.

Noting that Restorative Justice Week takes place Nov. 18-25, Nash explained that while the committee handles all community service hours referrals from the courts, he's not a big believer in making young people do hard manual labour . ash said it's more productive if the young people can be taught some skills.

"Kids should do activities they're going to feel good about and feel proud about," Nash said.