Backgrounder: Minister of Justice National Youth Justice Policing Award 2011

The Minister of Justice National Youth Justice Policing Award was established in 2000 in collaboration with the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP). The award recognizes police officers who, individually or as a team, develop approaches for dealing with youth in conflict with the law that go beyond the formal court system. It celebrates innovative policing and serves to inform the police and wider community about creative responses to youth crime.

Specifically, the award recognizes individuals or teams whose programs exemplify the goals and objectives of the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA), including:

• The use of measures that, as described in the YCJA, go beyond the usual course of legal proceedings or the authority of a court, such as warnings, cautions, and referrals to community agencies;
• Providing advice to decision makers in the youth justice process;
• Contributing to the rehabilitation and reintegration of youth who have been found guilty of crime.

All nominees must have demonstrated a commitment to helping young people understand the impact of their actions and encourage the involvement of parents, families and communities in the justice system.

Winner

The winners of the 2011 Minister of Justice National Youth Justice Policing Award are Inspector Mario Giardini, Sergeant Malcolm Cox, Constable Cheryl Leggett, Constable Ara Pehlivanian, Constable Rick Lavallee, Ms. Lori Beckstead and Ms. Beth McArthur of the Vancouver Police Department's Eastside Aboriginal Space for Youth (E.A.S.Y.) program.

The Vancouver Police Department's Diversity and Aboriginal Policing Section started the E.A.S.Y. program in 2010 to combat youth crime and gang recruitment. The program was based on years of experience and work forging more positive and trusting relationships with Vancouver's urban Aboriginal community. Section members devoted countless hours of work and personal overtime to this innovative program to help young people who have come into conflict with the law turn their lives away from criminal and gang involvement.

The Diversity and Aboriginal Policing Section works with the courts so that the program can be used as a probationary condition for youth and that participation in the program can be considered a mitigating factor in sentencing. The team works with front-line officers to ensure that referrals to the program are considered as an alternative to arrest and that referrals to other partnership programs working in speciality areas such as mental health and/or addictions needs are considered.

The program provides youth with resources and alternatives to gang involvement. Because of the work of this section through programs such as E.A.S.Y., involvement in crime among youth has dropped, and negative behaviours that lead to criminal involvement or recidivism such as drug use have declined by 25% for youth involved in the program.

Certificate of Distinction

The 2011 Certificate of Distinction has been awarded to Constable Perry Mason for his years of commitment and dedication to working with youth who come into contact with the law. In particular, his progressive work with restorative justice and healing circles exemplifies the principles of a balanced approach to justice as set out in the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Constable Mason has more than 32 years of policing experience with extensive involvement, both personal and professional, in dealing with bullying and youth justice issues. He was one of the first police officers in Hamilton to use restorative practices and has become an expert within the Hamilton Police Service on restorative justice and healing circles.

Restorative justice is a holistic approach that encourages the involvement of parents, family and the community. Constable Mason has had a great deal of success over the years in engaging parents and family of youth to participate. His work has helped young people to understand, at a deeper level, the impact their actions have on victims and the often far-reaching consequences of their antisocial behaviour.

As a strong supporter of the use of restorative justice practices, Constable Mason has demonstrated exemplary leadership in the training and implementation of staff and partner organizations. He was pivotal in starting a committee within the Hamilton Police Service to explore ways that restorative justice can be used within the Service. He currently sits on the Restorative Justice Steering Committee for the City of Hamilton, in addition to the newly formed Hamilton Police Service Restorative Justice Committee.

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Department of Justice Canada
August 2011