For Immediate Release
July 27, 2006
MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT EXPANDS YOUTH JUSTICE COMMITTEE PROGRAM TO KINGSTON AND THE ISLANDS
Innovative Program To Increase Accountability, Reduce Re-offending
KINGSTON – The McGuinty government is expanding the Youth Justice Committee (YJC) program to help Kingston and The Islands deal more effectively with young people in trouble with the law, John Gerretsen,MPP announced today on behalf of Attorney General Michael Bryant.
“Kingston’s Youth Justice Committee will help hold young people accountable for their actions, help get them off the path toward more serious crime and encourage them to become contributing productive members of our community,” Gerretsen said. “The program will also give Kingston residents a stronger role in improving the safety of the neighborhoods they live and work in.”
YJCs provide an alternative to prosecuting young people who have committed lower risk offences such as mischief, theft and minor assaults. They bring together youth from 12 to 17, their parents, victims, and trained members of the community to work out an appropriate way for the young person to make amends for their actions. This could include community service, restitution to the victim, personally apologizing to the victim or attending a specific community-based intervention program.
The YJC program has proven successful in Ontario, with over 80 per cent of participants having no further contact with the justice system within one year of completion.
The McGuinty government is on the side of Ontario families concerned about crime and safety. The Youth Justice Committee program is one way the government is fulfilling its commitment to strengthening the youth justice system and providing community alternatives for youth in trouble with the law. Other initiatives include:
Launching the Youth Challenge Fund with chair Michael “Pinball” Clemons, providing $15 million for community-led programs targeted to young people in the GTA Providing $3 million to support community-designed programs led by faith-based groups offering youth positive alternatives to violence Introducing a bullying prevention strategy and school safety audits“Serious crime, especially involving violence, will continue to be prosecuted vigorously, but the McGuinty government is supporting community interventions for lower-risk offenders,” said Attorney General Michael Bryant. “Youth Justice Committees are part of a comprehensive approach to providing timely and effective justice for young people in trouble with the law. The expansion of YJCs will strengthen our youth justice system and help make our communities stronger and safer.”
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