Circle sentencing, in our community anyway, was at times an alternative to the court system. It was a traditional alternative where you would sit in a circle. The victim and the perpetrator would be part of that circle. They would come up with an alternative to the mainstream sentencing type of thing. I believe in some communities it works very well. In some communities it works for a while, and then it falls by the wayside.
There are varying degrees of success with it. It's a traditional alternative that was developed by our people. It's meant to be part of restitution. Individuals are able to talk to the victim and the family and the community. It's restitution to the community. The community is part of that circle.