A NEED FOR RESTORATIVE JUSTICE

 

Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services Corporation has recently undertaken a strategic planning process for the future direction of the Corporation and this has resulted in a new corporate mandate which is to further expand the Restorative Justice Program and to service the needs of all NAN First Nations. Presently, the program only services fourteen (14) of the forty-nine (49) NAN First Nations.

 

A definite need has been identified by front-line workers for this programming, with direct community benefits such as accepting responsibility for one's own behaviour, increased community involvement and healing being identified. With all NAN communities involved in the program, not only would the justice system as a whole benefit in terms of reducing necessary court visits, it would also significantly reduce the amount of cost needed to administer justice under the current Euro-Canadian justice system in the North.

 

A transfer of case load and a change in the means of administering justice would also occur, albeit in a relatively minor way with only less serious offences being dealt with under Restorative Justice. The end result would enable First Nations to participate and administer their own justice in a way that is more aptly suited to their particular spiritual and traditional needs. Growth and further local empowerment is our ultimate objective.

 

How does this program benefit our sponsors and/or funders? Possessing the satisfaction and recognition of contributing to the success of an innovative program like Restorative Justice in the north is a superbly beneficial reason. Gaining community support from organizations both in the public and private sector is inherent to the method of justice that we provide in the north. It is community driven.

 

Restorative Justice is a community based program operated through and by the community at large. It is always beneficial to become involved in an approach that not only improves the lives of those we reach through Restorative Justice, but also one that truly makes an impact and a positive difference for the entire community, no matter their level of involvement.