Pubdate: Thu, 22 Apr 2010
Source: Chronicle Herald (CN NS)
Copyright: 2010 The Halifax Herald Limited
Contact:  http://thechronicleherald.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/180
Author: Mary Ellen MacIntyre
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

AMHERST STUDENTS IN DRUG BUST AVOID COURT

All students arrested during a recent drug bust on the grounds of 
Amherst Regional High School will go through the youth restorative 
justice system or adult diversion.

"It gives them a chance to get their lives back on track," said Staff 
Sgt. Scott White, during a telephone interview Wednesday.

A total of 33 male and female students, ranging from 14 to 19 years 
of age, were arrested at the school on April 10, or shortly 
thereafter, following a week-long investigation by officers from the 
Amherst and Springhill police departments and the RCMP.

The offences faced by the students included possession of marijuana 
and, in some case, possession of drug paraphernalia.

Five students were over the age of 18. They will go through adult 
diversion. After they complete their diversion, which can include 
community work, they will not have a record.

"We dealt with the people on an individual basis, they certainly 
weren't dealt with as a group," the officer said.

In order to be considered a good candidate for the alternative to the 
court system, the crimes had to be of a less serious nature and 
offenders have to admit responsibility for the crime.

"It's wide open what kind of thing they'll have to do to complete the 
terms of the diversion or the restorative justice," the White explained.

"It could be community service or they might have to write an essay 
or apologize - it's a very wide range. Hopefully, it will give them 
some time to rethink things and get back on the right path."

The students were all suspended from school for at least five days. 
They were in enrolled in Grades 9 to 12.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom