Youth Justice Committee Ontario

The 12+ Youth Justice Committee (12+ YJC) is comprised of volunteers who are committed to making their community a better place for all ages. These volunteers give their time to guide the program and facilitate “community justice conferences”.

The 12+ YJC is sponsored by the Land of Nipigon Chamber of Commerce. The two organizations work together to secure funding to provide an alternative to the traditional court system.

A Steering Committee, comprised of representatives from the Crown Attorney’s Office, Ontario Provincial Police and Youth Probation/Parole, guides the 12+ YJC.

Currently, the 12+ Youth Justice Committee employs two part-time staff:

Administrative Assistant: Holly Sitch
Coordinator: Kris Brown

The 12+YJC office is located at 22 Third St. in Nipigon, Ontario. Nipigon is approximately 120 km east of Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Though the home base is in Nipigon, the 12+ YJC serves a very large area. Our catchment area includes:

Our program offers restorative justice by bringing together youth accused of first-time, non-violent offences, their parents, the victim(s) and victims support persons with a trained volunteer facilitator for a “community justice conference”. They work together to find a way that the youth can repair the harm resulting from their actions. The 12+ YJC puts the community and those directly involved in charge of restoring justice in their community.

The Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) was passed on April 1, 2002 and put into effect April 1, 2003. Youth Justice Committees are a part of that Act. The program works towards the restoration of justice by empowering the victim to respond to the offender and to allow the victim a say in what the youth will do to repair the harm their actions caused. The focus is on educating the youth on how their actions affected the victims and all people involved. The youth must accept responsibility for their actions and show remorse for what damage they have caused. The program offers an alternative to the traditional court system.

The 12+ Youth Justice Committee is funded annually by the Ministry of the Attorney General, Youth Justice Committee Programs. They provide administrative funds and ample support to the committee and staff.

HOW CAN YOU CONTACT US?

You can contact the 12+ YJC using the following methods:

Phone: (807) 887-5858
Toll Free: 1-800-601-8795
Fax: (807) 887-0741
Email: youthjustice@vianet.ca

Mailing Address: 12+ Youth Justice Committee
22 Third St., Box 760
Nipigon, Ontario
P0T 2J0