Restorative Justice Diversion Program

The Restorative Justice Diversion Program allows a person who committed a crime and those affected by the crime to work together through Community Justice Committees in an effort to repair harm caused by the criminal behaviour and restore harmony in the community.

Community Justice Outreach Workers (CJOWs) and Community Justice Committees facilitate the Restorative Justice Diversion Program in their communities.

CJOWs receive potential matters from the RCMP and Public Prosecution Services Canada. Eligible matters may then be ‘diverted’ from the usual criminal court process while the restorative justice efforts are taken.

The role of the Community Justice Committee is to reconcile the person who committed the crime with those who are affected by crime and the community stakeholders utilizing restorative approach and Inuit Societal Values to repair the harm and restore the harmony in the community.

Each community in Nunavut has a Community Justice Committee, which are representative of all ages, with special regard for Youth and Elders in each community.

To learn more about the Restorative Justice Diversion Program, contact your local CJOW.

Restorative Justice is based on repairing harm caused by crime. The use of restorative justice is supported by provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada, the Young Offenders Act, the Victims Bill of Rights Act, and the Corrections and Conditional Release Act.

A healing-centred approach to addressing crime-related harm within communities aligns with Inuit societal values and traditional Inuit concepts of justice. Restorative justice offers Nunavummiut the opportunity to repair relationships affected by criminal activity as an alternative within the criminal justice system.