This release was issued under a previous government.
Youth justice committees provide an alternative to the formal court process for youth aged 12 to 17 who come into contact with the criminal justice system. The committees help youth accept responsibility for crimes, and show them the impact their actions have on the community. They also assist courts with sentencing, and engage in crime prevention activities. The Alberta government is providing $350,000 to support the work of committees in communities across the province.
“Supporting these volunteer-run committees is an effective way to reduce crime,” said Jonathan Denis, Minister of Justice and Solicitor General. “The youth justice committees enable youth to put something back into their communities, while also helping them get their lives back on track.”
Working in partnership with the province’s justice system, youth justice committees work with youth who have admitted responsibility in minor first or second offences. The committees receive referrals from courts and police services, and then meet with the youth and their responsible adults to arrange appropriate sanctions. Sanctions can include community service work and meetings with victims.
One of the groups to receive provincial funding this year is the Vermillion Youth Justice Committee, which received $1,500 to run its programs and services. Committee chairman Christine Smith said: "It will enable us to do a variety of things, such as working with organizations where youth can do community service work, and supporting local schools to bring in speakers on topics such as drugs, alcohol, bullying, and other issues. This helps us give our youth direction, and we have received some very positive feedback from them and their parents."
Another grant recipient is the Edmonton Youth Justice Committee, which received $46,000. "We take a community-based approach to youth crime that really makes a difference in Edmonton's communities. It allows volunteers to work out differences between young offenders, victims and community members, and helps to create a stronger community,” said board member Reta Boechler.
More than 1,500 youth justice committee volunteers in Alberta work approximately 144,000 hours per year. More information on programs and services available through Alberta Justice and Solicitor General is online at http://justice.alberta.ca.
Backgrounder
2012 Youth Justice Committee grant recipients
|
Youth Justice Committee |
Grant |
Youth Justice Committee |
Grant |
|
Airdrie, Crossfield and District |
$5,500 |
Lacombe |
$3,000 |
|
Alexander |
$3,000 |
Lac La Biche |
$500 |
|
Alexis First Nation (Glenevis) |
$3,000 |
Leduc Regional |
$6,000 |
|
Athabasca |
$700 |
Lethbridge |
$17,000 |
|
Beaumont |
$500 |
Maskwacis (Hobbema) |
$2,500 |
|
Big Country (Acme and area) |
$700 |
Mayerthorpe |
$700 |
|
Boyle and district |
$1,000 |
Morinville |
$1,000 |
|
Buffalo Lake Métis Settlement |
$1,000 |
Nipishkopahk (Samson Band) |
$2,500 |
|
Calgary Aboriginal Youth Restorative Justice |
$3,000 |
Northern Lights (Grande Prairie) |
$8,000 |
|
Calgary Youth Justice Society |
$60,000 |
O’Chiese First Nation |
$3,000 |
|
Calling Lake |
$700 |
Okotoks |
$6,000 |
|
Caravan |
$700 |
Olds |
$2,000 |
|
Camrose and district |
$3,000 |
Oyen |
$500 |
|
Claresholm, Stavely, Nanton |
$1,000 |
Paddle River Métis Settlement |
$500 |
|
Coaldale |
$1,000 |
Ponoka |
$1,000 |
|
Cochrane and district |
$5,000 |
Red Deer |
$20,000 |
|
Cold Lake |
$2,500 |
Saddle Lake |
$5,000 |
|
Devon |
$2,000 |
Siksika Nation (AASIPATI) |
$1,000 |
|
Didsbury |
$1,500 |
Slave Lake |
$2,000 |
|
Drayton Valley |
$2,500 |
St. Albert |
$9,000 |
|
Drumheller |
$1,500 |
St. Paul |
$2,200 |
|
East Prairie Metis Settlement |
$500 |
Stettler |
$2,200 |
|
Edmonton Youth Justice Society |
$46,000 |
Stony Plain |
$12,500 |
|
Elizabeth Métis Settlement |
$600 |
Strathcona County (Sherwood Park) |
$12,000 |
|
Elk Point and District |
$500 |
Strathmore |
$3,000 |
|
Enoch |
$3,000 |
Sundre and district |
$1,000 |
|
Fort Chipewyan |
$2,000 |
Southeast Alberta, Medicine Hat |
$13,000 |
|
Fort Saskatchewan and area |
$3,000 |
Swan Hill |
$500 |
|
Frog Lake/Fishing Lake |
$1,500 |
Valleyview |
$1,500 |
|
Gibbons |
$1,500 |
Vermillion |
$1,500 |
|
Hanna and district |
$1,000 |
Wabasca/Desmarais |
$1,500 |
|
High Prairie |
$2,000 |
Wainwright |
$2,500 |
|
High River |
$4,000 |
West Central Alberta (Rocky Mountain House) |
$2,000 |
|
Innisfail |
$8,000 |
Whitecourt |
$2,000 |
|
Jasper |
$500 |
Yellowhead (Evansburg) |
$1,000 |
|
Just Us Girls (Edmonton) |
$12,000 |
Youth Restorative Action Project (Edmonton) |
$14,000 |
|
Kikino Métis Settlement |
$500 |
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
$350,000 |
Media inquiries may be directed to:
Patrick Mears
Alberta Justice and Solicitor General
Communications
780-427-6171
[email protected]
To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000.