Yellowknife Community Justice Committee to continue with new co-ordinator

The Yellowknife Community Justice Committee will continue its restorative justice work despite the recent turmoil at the John Howard Society, say officials with the Northwest Territories' justice department.

Wednesday's meeting of the committeewas cancelled, but a Justice Department spokeswoman told CBC News a government employee will be responsible for steering the committee until a permanent co-ordinator is found.

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• 'I was stunned': Yellowknife reacts to sudden firing of John Howard Society director
• John Howard Society meets with N.W.T justice department after fraudster resigns

It had not been clear how the Community Justice Committee would function after LydiaBardakwas fired from the John Howard SocietyNov. 14. The John Howard Society helped run the program andBardakserved as itsco-ordinator.

Since Bardak's firing and the subsequent resignation of a board member,the John Howard Society board has appointed three new members and is beginning the search for a new executive director.

The Community Justice Committee works with the RCMP and Crown prosecutors to divert selected cases away from the traditional court system. When a case is diverted, the offender does not receive a criminal record, and the committee works with all persons involved to create alternative resolutions such as counselling, restitution or letters of apology.