Community Justice
The Community Justice division applies Inuit Societal Values by helping communities develop culturally relevant alternatives to the formal judicial system to address justice issues. The division also supports programs and services at a community level and provides funding to community-based justice projects such as crime prevention and helping victims of crime.
Community justice initiatives include:
- Restorative Justice Diversion Program
- Therapeutic Justice Program
- Family Abuse Support Program
- Victims Services
- Crime Prevention
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.
Therapeutic Justice Program
The Therapeutic Justice Program (TJP) works with offenders to focus on the underlying causes of their criminal behaviour, such as mental health, addiction issues, colonization, and intergenerational trauma as an alternative to the criminal court process.
The program has two main components of equal importance:
- a clinical component that provides support from mental health counsellors, clinicians, and psychologists, and
- a cultural component that provides support from community counsellors and Inuit Elders and facilitates participation in cultural programming (such as tool-making, fish net-making, on-the-land program, sewing programs).
The program has three entry points as an alternative measure:
- pre-charge referrals made by RCMP,
- post-charge referrals made by Public Prosecution Services Canada, and
- pre-sentencing referrals made by Legal Services Board.
The Therapeutic Justice program supports clients in their healing journey by providing resources necessary to regain confidence and reconnect with their community and Inuit culture and identity affected by colonization. The program’s objectives are to:
- reduce recidivism in Nunavut,
- reduce overrepresentation of Inuit offenders and victims in the criminal justice system,
- increase access to justice and culturally relevant responses to crime and criminal behaviour,
- increase meaningful participation of offenders and victims throughout the criminal justice process,
- increase access to mental health support for Nunavummiut,
- enhance community strength and capacity by empowering community leaders and organizations for safer and healthier Nunavut.
Established in 2021, the program operates in Cambridge Bay and in Arviat.
The Family Abuse Intervention Act (FAIA) came into force in 2008. The intent of this law is to provide Nunavummiut with tools to holistically intervene and prevent various forms of family abuse by focusing on the immediate need for safety, with simple and efficient processes that are consistent with Inuit values. The spirit and intent of FAIA is to prevent and de-escalate situations of abuse.
Under FAIA, four remedies are available:
- Emergency Protection Orders (EPOs)
- Community Intervention Orders (CIOs)
- Assistance Orders
- Compensation Orders
The Community Justice Division’s Family Abuse Support Program is responsible for ensuring that Nunavummiut can access these orders in each community across Nunavut. Community Justice Outreach Workers (CJOWs) and Community Justice Specialists are responsible for the assistance and support of these remedies, focusing on EPOs and CIOs.
Emergency Protection Orders
Emergency Protection Orders (EPOs) are civil court orders that provide protection to individuals and families from abuse in emergency situations.
Applications for an EPO are made to a Justice of the Peace, who may order remedies including:
- temporary removal of the abusive person from the family home
- that the abusive person not threaten or harass you or other family members
- that the abusive person have no direct or indirect contact with you or other family members, such as by staying away from the family home or your workplace
- providing you temporary custody of your children
- temporary protection of your property and personal belongings
Community Justice Outreach Workers (CJOWs) can assist applicants with the EPO process.
Applicants and respondents must be 14 years of age or older.
Community Intervention Orders
Community Intervention Orders (CIOs) are civil court orders that include counselling to address unhealthy and potentially abusive behaviours where a family relationship exists. Counsellors, including Elders, are identified and a plan is put into place to address the underlying issues.
Peace Bonds / No Contact Orders
Community Justice Outreach Workers can also assist with applications for a Peace Bond.
Peace Bonds are a type of court order that can require a person to “keep the peace and be of good behaviour” and impose conditions such as not to contact you or your children or come near your home or workplace. Unlike EPOs and CIOs, no family relationship is necessary to apply for a Peace Bond.
For Assistance
Help is available for family abuse in every community in Nunavut.
If you are a facing abuse or harassment, you can contact your local RCMP detachment.
For information on your local RCMP detachment, visit:
https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/detach/en/find/NU#wb-cont
You can also contact your local Community Justice Outreach Worker for help to apply for an EPO, CIO or for more information about options available for dealing with situations of abuse and harassment. Confidential help is available in English and Inuktitut.
Contact information for the CJOW in your community.
For support during weekends and after hours, call toll free 1-844-534-1038
Victim Services
Victim Services is a free and confidential client-centered support service for victims and survivors of crime. Services are tailored to meet the needs of each victim of crime – whether it is deciding to report an incident to the police, seeking guidance through the court process, or seeking follow-up after sentencing.
We can help you explore your options, provide information, and support you in making a decision. Accessing Victim Services is voluntary. You may decide that you need some or all the services – the choice is always yours. All victims are treated with courtesy, compassion, and respect.
Victim Services can help you with:
- general information and guidance through the criminal justice system
- providing information on what is happening with your specific case
- preparing a Victim Impact Statement and/or Victim Registration if you wish to complete one
- identifying and referring you to specialized community resources
- providing emotional support as you prepare to go through court
- accessing financial assistance for eligible victims and survivors of crime
To access Victim Services or to get more information contact:
Tel: (toll free) 1-866-456-5216
Email: @email
Victim Assistance Fund
The Victim Assistance Fund is a special-purpose fund maintained with revenue from victim fine surcharges. It was established to support community-based projects and activities that provide services and assistance to victims of crime. This includes:
- training aimed at sensitizing community resource workers to the needs and circumstances of victims of crime,
- direct services that assist victims through crisis response, personal support, follow-up assistance, victim information and systems referral,
- public awareness and information on the rights and responsibilities of victims, available services, the criminal justice system and its procedures, and any issues relating to victims of crime,
- research projects on the best practice of addressing issues faced by victims of crime across Canada and the development of strategies that will best support Nunavummiut who have been harmed by crime.
The Community Justice Division issues a call for proposals each year for projects and activities to support through the Victims Assistance Fund.
For more information about the Victim Assistance Fund and the process to access these funds, email: @email
Family Information Liaison Unit (FILU)
The Family Information Liaison Unit (FILU) provides resources for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) families and is intended to help these families access third-party information about their missing or murdered loved ones. Other supports provided by the FILU include referrals to traditional health supports and facilitating meetings between families and the various record holders.
For more information about the Family Information Liaison Unit, email @email
Crime Prevention
Crime prevention is any action, initiative or policy that aims to reduce or eliminate criminal offending, victimization, and re-offending. Crime prevention also includes ways of dealing with the root causes of crime by promoting and strengthening healthy relationships within our communities. Examples of crime prevention initiatives include:
- parenting programs,
- mentoring for youth,
- anger management and counseling,
- spousal abuse programs,
- employment and apprenticeship opportunities,
- resources to facilitate and promote reporting of crimes,
- safety infrastructure, such as extra lighting to promote sense of safety.
Crime Prevention Strategy
The Nunavut Crime Prevention Strategy (2017-2022) addresses the primary crime prevention challenges that communities faced as well as to build on existing initiatives. The Community Justice division continues to partner with stakeholders to plan and facilitate crime prevention programs.
The division developed the crime prevention strategy in consultation with the public. In 2013, the Community Justice Division held community consultations in each of Nunavut’s 25 communities and met with people of various ages and backgrounds to listen to what people had to say about how to prevent crime in Nunavut and in their community.
Community Justice representatives attended more than seventy-five meetings and spoke with hundreds of Nunavummiut including youth, elders, municipal leaders, concerned citizens, law enforcement, Community Justice Committees, and other professionals. Community Justice also hosted town hall meetings and radio shows.
The information gathered at these meetings was compiled in the Public Engagement Report for the Crime Prevention Strategy (2015). The consultations identified the following as the most reported root causes of crime in Nunavut:
- overcrowding
- lack of jobs
- low literacy and education levels
- lack of financial and food security
- sexual abuse and family violence (abuse and neglect)
- loss of cultural identity, self-reliance, roles and leadership
- lack of parenting and relationship skills
- substance abuse
Ikajuqtigiiniq Project
Ikajuqtigiiniq is a crime prevention project intended to develop community crime prevention initiatives and offer a territorial collaborative outlook in providing support to communities following the Community Justice division’s public engagement meetings.
The project draws on the findings of the Public Engagement Report for the Crime Prevention Strategy (2015) to design intervention strategies that address community-identified crime prevention and community wellness priorities and increase their sustainability and capacity at the community-level.
In partnership with community stakeholders and project participants, a crime prevention manual was developed to help guide the implementation of the project.
Link to Ikajuqtigiiniq Manual
Crime Prevention Fund
The Crime Prevention Fund provides financial support to crime prevention-related projects and initiatives across Nunavut. It was established to increase community wellbeing and to decrease the likelihood of individuals making unhealthy choices that may lead to criminal behaviour or activity.
Funding is allocated through streams chosen annually based on government priorities and/or community need. While the Government of Nunavut may have specific priorities, if there is an issue specific to your community that does not align with these priorities, your application will still be accepted and reviewed by the selection committee. Funds are distributed by the Department of Justice.
A call for proposals for projects and initiatives is issued annually.
The proposals are reviewed by a committee composed of Government of Nunavut staff who understand crime prevention and the important role of social development in communities. The Deputy Minister of Justice considers the recommendations of the committee and gives the final approval of projects to be funded.
Qukiutiliritsiarniq Nunavummi – Firearm Safety Nunavut
Community Justice is working to decrease injuries and incidents involving firearms through its Qukiutiliritsiarniq Nunavummi – Firearm Safety Nunavut campaign.
Launched in November 2022, this educational campaign promotes awareness and encourages the safe use, handling, and storage of firearms in Nunavut. The campaign distributes resources to promote safety and decrease incidents and injuries involving firearms.
Firearm Safety Nunavut aims to strengthen existing firearm safety educational courses and improve access to such courses.
- Distribution of educational and promotional material throughout Nunavut;
- Community events and discussions, in partnership with RCMP and local justice stakeholders;
- Possession and acquisition licence (PAL) courses in combination with awareness outreach events in Nunavut communities;
- Firearm Safety Awareness contests for elementary and high school students;
- Trigger locks distribution, in partnership with Firearm Safety Office, throughout Nunavut.
Email: @email