Toronto organizations which successfully divert young offenders from the court system are baffled why the federal government is slashing crucial funds for that purpose.
Last week, when Justice Minister Rob Nicholson announced “continued support” for the federal Youth Justice Services Funding Program at $141.7 million annually, he did not mention that number represents a 20-per-cent cut from previous years.
Advocates and experts are struggling to understand the rationale behind the cuts.
“An investment in young people who are at the front end of a ‘potential criminal career,’ is just so important and so much more cost-effective than the costs associated with people further on down that line,” said Heather Sproule, executive director at Central Toronto Youth Services. “This does seem to have come out of the blue.
The community-based organization offers programs to as many as 200 youth on probation or diverted from the court system for alternative programs.
The agency receives $1.3 million for youth justice services through the province, which allocates the federal transfer funds.
Eric Hoskins, Ontario’s minister of children and youth services, said the cuts were a surprise as there was no consultation with the provinces. He said he plans to fight the decision and would seek a meeting with Nicholson.
The minister was unavailable for comment Tuesday.
Nicholson’s spokeswoman, Julie Di Mambro, would not specify reasons for the funding cut, calling the amount allocated a “significant investment.”
Noel Busse, a spokesman for Saskatchewan’s justice department, said they were advised of the cuts and were reviewing the government’s decision, but would not comment.
A spokesperson in Quebec’s justice department said they were advised of the cut in a letter addressed to Yves Bolduc, minister for health and social services, sent Friday — two days after the official announcement was made.
Colin Dart, executive director of Turning Point Youth Services, said it’s too early to know how the loss of funding will affect specific programs offered by the centre as alternatives to custody.
“Any cuts to service is not a good thing for kids who are already vulnerable,” Dart said. “Less service means less opportunity for kids to get access to proper resources.”
If the cuts were made to balance budgets, Dart said that decision is “short-sighted.”
“It’s small potatoes overall in terms of the federal budget, but significant in terms of the transfer of payments to the provinces,” he said.
Queen’s University law professor Nicholas Bala said the “misleading” announcement on funding is cause for grave concern next to the Conservative government’s “tough on crime” push.
“I think both the legislation and the cuts are moving us in similar directions — very unfortunate directions,” Bala said. “I’m very concerned that the effects of these cuts, as passed along to the provinces, will result in less community-based programming, less prevention of youth crime and ultimately an increase in levels of offending.”
The federal fund, initiated in 1985 following implementation of the Young Offenders Act, was created to ensure provincial jurisdictions had the resources to provide programs and services in line with legislation.
Since the Youth Criminal Justice Act replaced the previous act in 2003, those services have largely including rehabilitative programs and community-based strategies for thousands of young offenders.
Some 52,900 cases were completed in youth court in 2010 and 2011, according to Statistics Canada, representing more than 178,000 charges. Of those, 73 per cent were for non-violent offences, mostly involving theft.
In 2006, 58 per cent of youth accused of a crime were given a warning, caution or referral to an alternative program, according to Statistics Canada. The number of youth formally charged dropped 27 per cent between 2002 and 2006.
The implications of those numbers are life-altering for youth, said Jane Sprott, associate criminology professor at Ryerson University.
“If the kid is convicted, you have a criminal record, which is going to haunt you forever,” Sprott said.
In addition to potential career limitations, travel restrictions and impacts on schooling, Sprott said there are “enormous costs” to bringing a young offender through months of court appearances.
With the funding changes coming into effect April 1, 2013, Sproule said her organization will hopefully have time to make the necessary changes in programming — changes she’s reticent to make.
“It does give us a bit of a window to advocate for a different decision,” she said.
Original Article
Source: the star
Author: Jennifer Pagliaro
Last week, when Justice Minister Rob Nicholson announced “continued support” for the federal Youth Justice Services Funding Program at $141.7 million annually, he did not mention that number represents a 20-per-cent cut from previous years.
Advocates and experts are struggling to understand the rationale behind the cuts.
“An investment in young people who are at the front end of a ‘potential criminal career,’ is just so important and so much more cost-effective than the costs associated with people further on down that line,” said Heather Sproule, executive director at Central Toronto Youth Services. “This does seem to have come out of the blue.
The community-based organization offers programs to as many as 200 youth on probation or diverted from the court system for alternative programs.
The agency receives $1.3 million for youth justice services through the province, which allocates the federal transfer funds.
Eric Hoskins, Ontario’s minister of children and youth services, said the cuts were a surprise as there was no consultation with the provinces. He said he plans to fight the decision and would seek a meeting with Nicholson.
The minister was unavailable for comment Tuesday.
Nicholson’s spokeswoman, Julie Di Mambro, would not specify reasons for the funding cut, calling the amount allocated a “significant investment.”
Noel Busse, a spokesman for Saskatchewan’s justice department, said they were advised of the cuts and were reviewing the government’s decision, but would not comment.
A spokesperson in Quebec’s justice department said they were advised of the cut in a letter addressed to Yves Bolduc, minister for health and social services, sent Friday — two days after the official announcement was made.
Colin Dart, executive director of Turning Point Youth Services, said it’s too early to know how the loss of funding will affect specific programs offered by the centre as alternatives to custody.
“Any cuts to service is not a good thing for kids who are already vulnerable,” Dart said. “Less service means less opportunity for kids to get access to proper resources.”
If the cuts were made to balance budgets, Dart said that decision is “short-sighted.”
“It’s small potatoes overall in terms of the federal budget, but significant in terms of the transfer of payments to the provinces,” he said.
Queen’s University law professor Nicholas Bala said the “misleading” announcement on funding is cause for grave concern next to the Conservative government’s “tough on crime” push.
“I think both the legislation and the cuts are moving us in similar directions — very unfortunate directions,” Bala said. “I’m very concerned that the effects of these cuts, as passed along to the provinces, will result in less community-based programming, less prevention of youth crime and ultimately an increase in levels of offending.”
The federal fund, initiated in 1985 following implementation of the Young Offenders Act, was created to ensure provincial jurisdictions had the resources to provide programs and services in line with legislation.
Since the Youth Criminal Justice Act replaced the previous act in 2003, those services have largely including rehabilitative programs and community-based strategies for thousands of young offenders.
Some 52,900 cases were completed in youth court in 2010 and 2011, according to Statistics Canada, representing more than 178,000 charges. Of those, 73 per cent were for non-violent offences, mostly involving theft.
In 2006, 58 per cent of youth accused of a crime were given a warning, caution or referral to an alternative program, according to Statistics Canada. The number of youth formally charged dropped 27 per cent between 2002 and 2006.
The implications of those numbers are life-altering for youth, said Jane Sprott, associate criminology professor at Ryerson University.
“If the kid is convicted, you have a criminal record, which is going to haunt you forever,” Sprott said.
In addition to potential career limitations, travel restrictions and impacts on schooling, Sprott said there are “enormous costs” to bringing a young offender through months of court appearances.
With the funding changes coming into effect April 1, 2013, Sproule said her organization will hopefully have time to make the necessary changes in programming — changes she’s reticent to make.
“It does give us a bit of a window to advocate for a different decision,” she said.
Original Article
Source: the star
Author: Jennifer Pagliaro
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