DAWSON CITY It may be that the theme of the Dawson Community Group Conferencing Society, 'Repair the Harm,' is a little too subtle.

The society held a recent contest to have school students create posters to promote its work. Board members found that many of the entries focused on the restoration and preservation of the environment.

That's not quite what the society is up to, unless you want to talk about the social environment.

Executive director Corrine Gaudet was pleased with the response from the students, but felt it indicated the society needs to promote its goals more widely.

'Repair the Harm' is a slogan which focuses on the rights and needs of the victim rather than those of the offender, which is so often the case in the mainstream justice system.

Since the group was first created seven years ago, it has aimed to improve the social environment through the promotion of community-based justice methods using the family group conferencing model.

Conferences are held which may involve the victim, the offender, the RCMP and other concerned citizens, with the goal of getting the offender to understand what impact his or her actions have had on others.

Themes such as 'growth, understanding, forgiveness and support' are contained in the non-profit society's literature.

'The process gives the victim a way to find that they are happy with repairing the harm that has been done to them,' Gaudet said in a recent interview.

'This gives both the victim and the offender a chance to hear both sides of the story, and for the offenders to take responsibility for the harm that they have caused �- and to work to repair it,' she added.

Offenders have to be willing to admit their wrongdoing and be prepared to accept terms of restitution from the conference or the case cannot be conferenced.

Conferences are typically held in a circle format similar to first nation practices in the Yukon, and group conferencing formats pioneered in New Zealand.

Outcomes are quite flexible and decided by the people in the circle. It could involve a private letter of apology, or one published in the local paper, community service hours, or even financial restitution.

Referrals for conferencing have generally come from the RCMP, the Crown, the Courts and the school.

Many cases are pre-charge and allow the situation to be dealt with without the offender gaining a record. Some are post-charge and involve restoration.

The society also accepts self-referrals and is prepared to mediate in situations where no formal complaints have been made if requested.

This year, the group has carried out only three conferences, though Gaudet says the numbers go up and down in what seems to be a five-year cycle.

'We've dealt with break and enter, thefts, damage to private property, trafficking a wide variety of offences and problems.'

Gaudet works at her office over the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce though conferences can be arranged outside business hours, using a cadre of volunteers who have taken conferencing training.

There are currently six to eight facilitators and co-facilitators able to assist in conferences.

Training in an ongoing process. One session was completed last month, and it's hoped sessions can be conducted bi-annually.