Judged by one’s peers

The Inuksuk High School Youth Justice panel assisted Justice Beverley Browne with youth court last week.

Members of the panel attend court throughout the school year and provide peer-based input. The grade 10 and 12 volunteers recommend probation conditions for youths charged with criminal but non-violent crimes.

• Two 15-year-old boys who broke into the youth centre at the Arctic Winter Games arena in Iqaluit in September 2002 received conditional discharges after pleading guilty to theft and break and enter. They were placed on probation for six months and ordered to perform 50 hours of community service work.

The youths, who cannot be named under the Young Offenders Act, gained entry to the locked room through the ceiling. They ransacked a vending machine and stole money from the cash box, the court heard.

One boy took $117. The other boy made off with $140 and chocolate bars.

A third youth who took $190 and six chocolate bars also faces charges. His case is still before the courts.

• A 16-year-old boy was sentenced to six months probation and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service for stealing $420 from a Snack restaurant delivery car.

The boy pinched the driver’s money pouch from the well-marked vehicle.

“It was all spent very quickly,” said defence lawyer Andy Mahar when asked if the money was returned. “[The theft] was purely opportunistic. He gave in to temptation.”

The panel recommended the youth apologize to the driver.

• An Iqaluit youth who stole a polar bear carving from an Iqaluit home received a conditional discharge. He was sentenced to 12 months probation and ordered to complete 20 hours of community service work.

The carving has not been returned to the owner.