Vancouver Aboriginal Transformative Justice Services (VATJSS)

Provides justice, homelessness, and crime prevention services to Indigenous people in Metro Vancouver. Services include community referrals, house listings for low-income residents, and assistance with completion of forms. The Diversion Unit utilizes a community council forum made up of volunteers, an Elder, the victim, and the accused and their support people to discuss the offence, its effects, and causes of the behaviour, with the goal of making amends and positively moving the accused towards stability and purpose. A healing plan is tailored to the needs of the accused with options such as alcohol and drug counselling, employment training, community service, and housing. Referrals must be approved by provincial or federal Crown Counsel, youth probation, police, or RCMP. Office hours are 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday. Funded by Department of Justice. Nonprofit society.