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Conflict Mediation Services of Downsview
95 Eddystone Avenue, Second Floor
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M3N 1H6
MISSION
Conflict Mediation Services of Downsview (CMS-D) is a not-for-profit
charitable organization that helps people in families, workplaces,
schools and neighbourhoods understand and resolve conflict.
CMS-D is committed to restorative justice and the peaceful resolution
of conflict in order to reduce violence and crime, and build
healthy and safe communities.
VISION
Serving and learning in one of the most culturally diverse
communities in the world, CMS-D will be a recognized leader
in changing the face of conflict.
For more information about Conflict Mediation Services of
Downsview please visit our website :
http://www.cmsd.org/
YOUTH JUSTICE COMMITTEE
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“The YJC presents an opportunity where young people in conflict with the law can take responsibility for their actions. CMS-D is a strong partner in restorative justice. I am excited about the opportunity to work with CMS-D to provide quality service to the North York and Etobicoke communities.”
– Shane Hobson, Assistant Crown Attorney
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History
CMS-D has provided restorative justice based programmes in
the former city of North York since 1987.
Needless to say,
we were thrilled when we were informed in January of 2005
that we had been chosen to administer the YJC for the 2201
Finch courthouse, serving North York and Etobicoke.
We held
our first meeting with the Steering Committee in April and
decided to focus on volunteer recruitment and training. Despite
the fact that we were already up and running, the support
from our local crown attorneys was resulting in a high referral
rate and we were eager to add to our volunteer pool in order
to respond to the demand.
CMS-D’s Youth Justice Committee
Who is eligible?
Similar to other sites, CMS-D’s programme is available
for young people between 12 and 18 alleged to have committed
low risk offences. Young people must accept responsibility
for their actions and be prepared to be accountable to the
victim(s) by way of an apology and offering to make amends
to address the harm caused.
What offences are considered?
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theft, possession under $5,000 (for example, shoplifting,
possession of stolen property or goods);
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false pretences under $5,000 (for example, price
switching);
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mischief under $5,000 (for example, breaking a shop
window);
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causing a disturbance;
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fraud under $5,000;
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false statements under $5,000;
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food, accommodation fraud
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property offences over $5,000;
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giving a false name when arrested;
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credit card offences; and,
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minor assaults (schoolyard scuffles, altercations
and interpersonal conflicts).
How does it work?
The young person can either be referred by the police (pre-charge)
or Crown Attorney (post-charge). Once a referral is received:
1. Trained community volunteers meet with the young person
to hear their story, explain the programme and to answer any
questions they have.
2. If it is considered appropriate, the victim will be contacted
to see if they are interested in meeting with the volunteers
to learn more about the programme.
3. If the victim is interested, a face-to-face meeting (mediation
or community conference) will be arranged. Other models will
also be explored if mediation or conferencing is not suitable.
CMS-D’s mediation and conferencing processes are dialogue
driven, with emphasis on building understanding between the
participants.
What are the possible outcomes?
The mediation or conference may result in an agreement being
written up outlining what the participants agreed to in the
meeting. In addition to the apology, other possible outcomes
include: community service hours to give back to the community,
personal service to the victim, restitution for losses incurred,
participation in programming to prevent future harms etc. If
the sanctions are not completed, the case is referred back to
the criminal justice system.
Committee Members
CMS-D is located in one of the most culturally diverse communities
in the world. It is rumoured that over 100 languages are represented
in a four block radius of the Jane Finch community. CMS-D is
committed to supporting ethnic, cultural, linguistic, gender
and experiential diversity. Committee members are representative
of the North York and Etobicoke communities.
What People are Saying…
“When Dave’s problem emerged…our family
members had searched diligently for a public alternative to
the punishment-oriented legal system of Canada…
No matter how the future reveals itself, (my husband) and
I are certain that with the assistance of Conflict Mediation
Services, a door has been opened for Dave which offers him
the most unfettered opportunity to change his lifestyle. Through
this process and the steps that led up to it, I believe we
have been able to send him the message that he is an essentially
good and wonderful man who has been born with the freedom
to take responsibility for his own actions and to make his
own choices.”
– Victim
“…there is a new solution to the problem where
the victims come and talk to the people that committed the
crime. This allows every one to see what their actions have
done and how their actions have affected everyone. This is
called community conferencing...The conference allows the
kids to…get a fresh start and it shows that some kids
can take responsibility for their actions…Plus you get
to hear how the victims felt and how they took in your actions.
You get a look at their feelings and how they were feeling
at the time. I learned you must pay for your actions and that
stealing from people makes them feel unsafe.”
– Alan
“At the start of the conference, the victim’s
parents said that they could sense the tension in the room.
By the end of the conference, the victims mother was hugging
the four offenders and telling them to make sure they stop
and say hi to her if they run into each other in the neighbourhood.
She said that the process made her feel safer within the community,
once she got to meet and listen to the offenders and their
parents at the conference.”
– Adil Ahmed, CMS-D Youth Justice Committee Member
“The 2201 Finch Avenue West Crown Attorney's Office
is very pleased to have CMS-D as the agency in charge of administering
our Youth Justice Committee. CMS-D's long history as a agency
committed to providing victim-centred mediations as a method
for resolving conflicts involving young persons was paramount
in the Steering Committee's decision to choose CMS-D as the
administering agency. We look for ward to a long and fruitful
relationship with CMS-D.”
– Rochelle Direnfeld, Assistant Crown Attorney
“The proven reputation and professionalism of CMS-D will
ensure superior service to the youth & families of our Etobicoke
& North York communities”
– Penny McKay, Steering Committee Member
CMS-D Would Like to Thank the Following
for Supporting the Youth Justice Committee:
For more information:
Please contact : Michele Sauvé
Phone: 416-740-2522 ext. 21
Fax: 416-740-6892
E-mail: msauve@cmsd.org
Website: www.cmsd.org
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