Therapeutic Justice Program

Brief Description

Therapeutic Justice Program (TJP) is a cultural-based initiative that provides Inuit-led alternative measures to the Criminal Justice System. It allows offenders to participate in a justice process where it is meaningful and culturally appropriate. TJP utilizes Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit to discuss the harm caused by the offender in ways offenders, victims and the community can participate meaningfully. The program has two main components – Inuit traditional skills and mental health counselling.

Goals

The main goals of TJP are to:

• Reduce recidivism;
• Decrease overrepresentation of Indigenous people in correctional facilities;
• Increase front-line services to Nunavummiut for mental health issues, substance abuse and trauma;
• Enhance community-resource capacity by empowering local leaders and organizations to address these issues; and 

• Provide options and alternatives to incarceration in the sentencing process of the mainstream justice system. 

Clientele

Clients are referred by either Defense Counsel, RCMP, and or Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC).  MUST be over the age of 12 years old  Must be out-of-custody clients. Victim(s) are provided with an opportunity to participate in the process.

Core Components

Clients must first be open to engage with the Assessment Team to develop wellness plans based upon their needs, and to carry out their responsibilities as agreed upon during the Program. The type of programming required for clients are determined after the assessment.

TJP consists of two main components:

• Inuit traditional skills/Programming: Offenders participate in programs that consist of traditional tool making, hunting and fishing, sewing Inuit traditional clothing, and land trips, among other skill-building activities; and
• Mental Health or Elder Counseling: Offenders attend counseling facilitated by a Mental Health Nurse, and/ or an Elder. Through sessions with the Mental Health Nurse, the clients receive a mental health assessment and diagnosis thorough Nunavut Department of Health.

Implementation Information

Some of the critical elements for the implementation of this program or initiative include the following:

• Organizational requirements: Dedicated staff members within the Justice Department and Mental Health field.
• Partnerships: Community Resources/Supports, local guides, elders, Hamlet of Arviat & Cambridge Bay, non-for-profit organizations, Culture & Heritage, and Criminal Justice System.
• Training and technical assistance: Training opportunities are available throughout duration of employment.
• Risk assessment tools: Limited information on this topic.
• Materials & resources: Various tools & equipment/motorized equipment is needed to deliver the Inuit cultural aspect part of the TJP. The Inunnguiniq Parenting program, a potential component of TJP, is an evidence-based parenting/ childrearing program based on Inuit childrearing philosophy. It is developed by Qaujigiartiit Health Research Centre (QHRC). Therapeutic Justice Program Case Specialists are trained by QHRC to facilitate the Inunnguiniq Parenting program for TJP clients.

International Endorsements

The most recognized classification systems of evidence-based crime prevention programs have classified this program or initiative as follows:

• Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development: Not applicable.
• Crime Solutions/OJJDP Model Program Guide: Not applicable.
• SAMHSA's National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices: Not applicable.
• Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy: Not applicable.

Gathering Canadian Knowledge

Canadian Implementation Sites

The Therapeutic Justice Program first launch in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut as a pilot program in 2019 with funding from Justice Canada. After it’s initial success, Justice Canada continues to fund TJP in Cambridge Bay. In 2021, Therapeutic Justice Program expanded to Arviat, Nunavut upon securing multi year funding from Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI).

The Therapeutic Justice Program is administered by the Community Justice division of the territorial Department of Justice.

Main Findings from Canadian Outcome Evaluation Studies

An evaluation was completed by the Qaujigiartiit Health Research Center (QHRC) for the pilot Therapeutic Justice Program in Cambridge Bay. QHRC collected data from April 2019- March 2020 and an evaluation report was released in March 2020.

Results from this evaluation focused on the following:

•        The experiences of the clients of the Therapeutic Justice Program; and
•        Input from the justice stakeholders to better understand the existing gaps.

The recommendations from the evaluation reports were implemented by the Department of Justice, Government of Nunavut.

Cost Information

No information available.

References

There is no Canadian reference available at this time.

For more information on this program, contact:

Therapeutic Justice Program Manager

Community Justice

PO Box 1000, Station 521

Iqaluit, Nunavut

X0A 0H0

Telephone: (867) 975-6337

E-mail: tjp@gov.nu.ca