Wed Feb 14, 3:18 AM
CBC
The confederacy put on a mock circle for lawyers, police and justice officials, to give them an idea of how they work and when they might be used. Grace Vos, aboriginal justice co-ordinator for the Mi'kmaq Confederacy, said aboriginal people are over-represented in the legal system.
"I'm hoping that if we more and more take advantage of our culture and our wisdom and our teachings, then that number in the justice system will decrease," said Vos.
One official circle has already been held on Lennox Island and there will be more. Police, probation services and the Crown Attorney's office will be consulted before circles are held.
Frank Lavandier, manager of probation for P.E.I., said circles will be held for only some kinds of offences.
"They would be the more minor type, although the criminal code certainly doesn't prevent us from using alternative measures in any kind of situation," said Lavandier.
"But at the same time, provincially, we have certain offences we don't usually go by way of alternative measures, such as impaired driving, for example, and domestic-type assaults."
Vos said at the end of a circle the group comes up with an agreement, or a sentence, for the offender. Unlike the regular justice system, what's said during the circle and its outcome are confidential.