Differences between formal and circle courts

What does the room look like?

• Formal court- cold and impersonal
• Circle court- Aboriginal artwork and flags

Who attends?

• Formal court- justice system professionals
• Circle court- elders, magistrate, police, community members (sometimes family members)

What decides the sentence?

• Formal court- legal principals and precedents
• Circle court- offenders situation, victims comments

Who talks most?

• Formal court- lawyers
• Circle court- those directly or indirectly affected by the crime

What are the results?

• Formal court- convictions and crimal records, jail time
• Circle court- convictions and criminal records, community work