CMS-D Nearing Completion of Year 1 of Youth Justice Committee Program
CMS-D is excited with the response from the community about the Youth Justice
Committee Program. This past year, we have received many applications from
individuals wishing to volunteer with the program. Since July, we have trained over
60 people. Trained volunteers go on to facilitate Youth Justice Committee meetings.
Youth Justice Committees bring together young people alleged to have committed non-
violent offences, their parents, victims and trained members of the community to
negotiate an appropriate way for the young person to make amends for his or her actions.
Youth Justice Committees provide an increased role for victims and communities in
dealing with minor offences committed by young persons who are prepared to be
accountable.
How Youth Justice Committees Work
* The YJC is made up of volunteers in the community who work with a local
community agency and with participants in the criminal justice system.
* Police may refer the young person to the YJC before a charge is laid, or the
Crown may refer the young person after a charge is laid.
* In order for a young person to be referred to the YJC, the young person must be
willing to participate in the program, be aware of his or her options or rights and
be prepared to be accountable.
* At a Youth Justice Committee meeting, participants work together to come up
with measures as an alternative to the formal justice system.
* Young people who do not agree with, or fail to comply with the measures, are
returned to the formal justice system.
Examples of Measures
Measures take into consideration the individual circumstances of the offence and the young person. An apology must be made in every case. Examples of measures include:* Community service * Curfews * Paying back the victim * Voluntary participation in counseling programs, such as anger management sessions * An agreement by the young person not to associate with a person or a group
Seletion of Members
A Steering Committee is formed in each site to start the development of the local Youth
Justice Committee and to act as a resource to the YJC to provide ongoing support. The
Steering Committee is made up of police, Crown attorneys, defence counsel, victim
services representatives, probation officers, and Legal Aid Ontario representatives. The
Steering Committee chooses a community agency to provide the administrative support
for the local YJC Program. The community agency recruits volunteers for the YJC.
Applicants for membership on the YJC are:
* Representative of the community * Subject to a criminal record check * Recommended by the Steering Committee * Approved by the Ministry of the Attorney General * Trained, and take an oath of confidentiality * Removed for any inappropriate behaviour, such as breach of confidentiality or non-disclosure of conflict of interest.
If you are interested in volunteering with the Youth Justice Committee, please contact Michele Sauve, Co-ordinator, Restorative Justice Initiatives at 416 740-2522, extension 21 or at msauve@cmsd.org. In addition, CMS-D will also be seeking community agencies who are interested in providing opportunities for youth to perform community service.
For more information about Youth Justice Committees, please visit www.yjcontario.ca
Criminal Justice System Embraces Restorative Justice!
Message from RJ Program Coordinator
2005 has been a very exciting year for the Restorative Justice Program at CMS-D. We are excited to announce that we have been chosen by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services (MCYS) to be a demonstration site for Restorative Justice for the province of Ontario. CMS-D is one of 8 organizations across Ontario that has received funds from the MCYS Youth Justice Services. This project will allow us to increase restorative justice programming and provide service to the Metro West and Metro North Toronto Probation offices. As a result of these two new funders, I am thrilled to have Adil Ahmed and Marcia Boniferro join the Restorative Justice Program. Michele Sauve