Alternative justice growing trend for youths in trouble with the law

December 10, 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Canada's new Youth Criminal Justice Act came into

effect this year, putting greater pressure on police and the courts to divert youth who commit non-violent crimes from the prison system into rehabilitative programs.

"For youths who've had a non-violent brush with the law, the courts and police are now looking more to supportive alternative programs to help youths instead of the court system," says Ray Chapman, an instructor in the Youth Justice Program at Douglas College.

The Act poses a new challenge to police and the courts - where to send the youths who are diverted from the system? John Fleming, an instructor of the Youth Justice Program, supervised a project this summer aimed at answering this question, while many of the Program's first graduating class landed jobs at alternative justice programs around the Lower Mainland.

The project, staffed by Youth Justice Program student Sarah Louie and others, compiled a database of services available to youth in the Lower Mainland, in response to a request from the Vancouver Police. "The new Youth Criminal Justice Act gives police the additional responsibility of diverting non-violent youths from the courts," says Fleming. "But they need to know where to divert them to."

Louie did her work placement for the Program on the database project, compiling information on everything from addictions counselling to group homes to anger management courses in the Greater Vancouver Regional District. When the project ended, Louie began working part-time with the John Howard Society while transferring her credits from Douglas College to the criminology program at the University-College of the Fraser Valley.

Many Youth Justice Program graduates have followed similar paths. The two-year program, which had its first graduation in June 2003, combines criminology and law with practical counselling skills. Feedback about the program and demand for its graduates are so favourable that the College decided to expand the program, starting new sessions every year instead of every two years.

"I don't think there's anything else like it in B.C.," says Phil Dutton, a graduate who works as the Activities Supervisor for Waypoint in Surrey. "I was taking criminology and I was interested in working with youth. The Youth Justice Program was perfect for me."

With the new Act about to take effect, the timing was good too. Before he graduated, Dutton landed his job at Waypoint, a Pacific Legal Education Association day treatment program for male youth who've had a brush with the law.

"A lot of the information covered by the Youth Justice Program came up in my interview for this job," says Dutton. "Other things the program taught me, like how to treat people and ethics, were really useful, because you have to treat youth with respect and dignity or you can't relate to them."

Dutton works with the youths on life skills such as nutrition, paying rent, budgeting, shopping and getting identification cards. He also provides one-on-one counselling to three youths at the program. "We also try to get them involved in activities, something to fill the gap left when they stop using drugs. A lot of these kids have an awful lot to deal with - some have been in the system for years and some have drug problems and mental health issues," he says. "Add it all up and it's a lot for a young person to deal with."

Alison Hrbinic, another program graduate, now works as a Youth and Family Worker with the Focus Foundation's Vancouver Metro Intensive Support and Supervision Program in Burnaby for youth on bail or probation. "I provide one-on-one support to the youths while they are in the justice system, and their families, supporting them while - helping them job hunt, find alternative school placements and recreational activities."

Hrbinic worked full-time in the summer, and is now working part-time while studying criminology at Douglas College in order to transfer in the third year at SFU.

"With the new act, there are slow changes - a push to keep youth in the community and connected to the community," says Hrbinic. "Going to prison puts a huge strain on their relationships and then they're suddenly put back into the community they haven't been involved with and expected to pick up where they left off."

For more information about the Youth Justice Program at Douglas College, attend an information session on December 17 at 5 p.m. in Room 1614 at the New Westminster Campus, 700 Royal Avenue, New Westminster, one block north of the New Westminster SkyTrain Station. Call 604-527-5724 to register.

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For more information, please contact:
Kimberley Fehr, Communications & Marketing Office: 604-527-5325