Youth Justice Committee - Scarborough                             

Background

In the spring of 1998, a steering committee formed for a pilot project sanctioned by the Ministry of the Attorney General to "hear informal conferences dealing with minor non violent offences." The steering committee consisting of Crown, Legal Aid, Police, Probation and Parole, Ministry of Community and Social Services, and Community Agencies met on a regular basis and after a long start up and screening process the committee was formed. It consisted of members with an interest in helping the youth in their community.

Supporting Community Agencies -- West Scarborough Neighbourhood Community Centre and Operation Springboard

The primary mission of the West Scarborough Neighbourhood Community is to offer neighbourhood programs and services designed to enhance the well being of people in the context of their community, culture and environment. By way of an adaptive service framework, the Centre fosters social interaction and mutual aid, personal growth, mental and physical health, environmental education and awareness, self-help and community participation. Programs and services are available for children, youth, families and seniors and include after school programs, day camps, community services placement program, youth employment programs, family resource services and seniors services.

Operation Springboard

Operation Springboard is a non-profit, community-based, multi-faceted, social service agency that provides a continuum of services in the Criminal and Social Justice Systems. Springboard builds safer communities through accountable and innovative services, a dedicated and professional staff, and an involved community. Through our 15 Ontario locations, Springboard helps thousands of youth and adults. Springboard's main mission is designing and providing services and programs that encourage and develop sustainable law-abiding behaviour. Our commitment also includes the development of crime prevention strategies that foster respect for the law and are directed at those most in need, involve the community in the design and provision of services and to bring forward recommendations that will improve the effectiveness of the Criminal Justice System. We believe that the prevention of crime and correction of criminal behaviour is most effectively nurtured within an involved community.

Committee Makeup

Scarborough is a culturally diverse community and the Scarborough Youth Justice Committee reflects this ethnicity in its members. The members of the Scarborough Youth Justice Committee come from all walks of life, from students just getting started in life to grandparents and retired persons. We are all people who either live or work in Scarborough, and volunteer our time to help make our community a better and safer place. All members of the committee are strictly volunteering their time; none are paid for their hard work and devotion. Members of the police, crown, probation, judiciary, and active criminal lawyers, however, are ineligible to be a part of the Scarborough Youth Justice Committee, based on their possible conflict of interest. Due to the size of Scarborough and the need for availability, the Committee is divided into two sub-committees, the East and West Committees.

The East Committee is further divided into five panels of three members each, whereas the West Committee is divided into four panels of 3 members each. These meetings are strictly confidential and only the persons involved directly in the case may attend, i.e. the panel, the youth and parent/guardian and victim.

The entire Scarborough Youth Justice Committee meets once a month for training, updates in procedures, and to learn from the experience of others. Once a year an Annual General Meeting and Volunteer Recognition is held where volunteers are recognized and presented with tokens of appreciation.

Hearings

The Scarborough Youth Justice Committee heard its first official case on June 27,2000. Generally the cases referred to the committee are minor and non violent in nature, however we have never been at a loss for interesting cases with the full support of the crown.

To date the committee has heard 190 cases. Of these, only 8 have been referred back to probation, the original referring agent. When cases are returned, the probation officer will contact the young person and give them an extension to complete their agreements. All but 2 of the young people have completed the assigned agreements, once having been referred back to Probation. The remaining two cases were referred back to the court and prosecuted.

Agreements:

The Scarborough Youth Justice Committee, and all committees in general have been given a unique opportunity to tailor the "sanctions" to meet the needs of the young person and the person harmed, not to just fit the offence.

The letter or verbal apology is mandatory for all youth that enter the program, however the following are other alternatives to traditional "sanctions" that have been agreed to:

A)   Write a reflective paper, journal or essay.

B)   Find a mentor and research him/her.

C)   Enrol in a variety ofprograms or workshops, including anger management,       substance abuse, employment skills, life skills, cognitive skills, etc.

D)   Volunteer in a Community organization.

E)   Make a donation to a charity in the community.

F)   Personal service to the victim or family members.

G)   Prepare a poster pertaining to the offence.

H)   Graffiti removal programs; community clean up/ special events.
 
I)    Prepare for and attend for testing for driver's licence.

The committee and the young person and the person harmed can be creative in the agreement while upholding the principles of Restorative Justice through positive action beneficial to the young person and the community.