Difference between revisions of "Justice Systems (Legal Information for Indigenous People)"

Remote communities call Virtual I.J.C. 1-866-786-0081

'''Restorative Justice''' refers to justice systems that focus on accountability, healing and the restoration of balance. The justice systems of Indigenous people have traditionally drawn their justice practices from cultural values such as these. As colonization replaced Indigenous systems with a criminal justice system prioritizing punishment and incarceration, restorative justice outcomes for Indigenous peoples plummeted. There have been attempts to reform the justice system with diversion programs that take criminal matters from the courts and divert them to alternative processes. This is often seen with Youth offenders. More recently, we have seen more Indigenous community-based justice programs offering culturally-based responses to harms (crimes) that occur in their communities.

<BLOCKQUOTE>Restorative Justice programs allow for justice processes such as restitution, healing circles, circle sentencing, peace keeping circles, participation in community or cultural events, isolation, banishment, ect.</BLOCKQUOTE>

* '''Nuxalk Restorative Justice Program''' provides culturally based services to court-involved community members.

* '''Nuxalk Safety Committee''' may make recommendations to the RCMP, the Court, Nuxalk Chief and Council, and Hereditary Leadership.