Furious with justice system

I’m a resident here in the capital of Nunavut. I have lived here all my life.
I have in my short life dealt with molestation in my family and I am furious with the decisions of the Nunavut Department of Justice. I feel that the offenders should go through some type of healing process before being released from custody.

Also, I am disgusted that most offenders only do a small amount of jail time, while the people who are traumatized have to seek help to make themselves better and to fix their lives because once again the justice system has failed.

I was very disgusted to learn that a man who has molested for two decades received two years of jail time and a probation period. He said he had been molested by Edward Horne. What Edward Horne did is terrible and disgusting, however that doesn’t justify giving him only two years because he molested for two decades.

He could have sought help if he really wanted to. Obviously he waited until he was caught to mysteriously want to better himself.

I was molested as a child, but I have overcome the guilt, humiliation and most of all the pain that it carries with it. I have been taking counselling and I talk to people who have been through the same things that I had to deal with. I seek help knowing that I would never overcome the hell that this brought me to on my own.

If the molesters really felt guilt and really wanted to change their behaviour, they would seek the help that they really need rather than wait to get caught.

What about the nine to 13-year-old boys who are the target here? What happens to them? When the molesters get out, who’s to say they won’t do it again? The justice department? Our court system? The lawyers? I remain apprehensive.

I feel that we as the community are the drop-off centre for those individuals who are banished from their home communities. May God forgive those people, for I will not.

(Name withheld by request)
Iqaluit