Department of Justice
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Minister of Justice National Youth Justice Policing Award 2008
- Message from the Minister
- Minister of Justice National Youth Justice Policing Award
- Winner
- Certificate of Distinction
- Video of winner and runner-up for 2008
- Transcript of video
Message from the Minister
As Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, I would like to congratulate the recipients of the ninth annual Minister of Justice National Youth Justice Policing Award.
This award recognizes police officers who display excellence and innovation in dealing with youths who come into conflict with the law. This year’s recipients have demonstrated a strong commitment to their communities by working tirelessly to develop new ways of supporting youth justice.
The Government of Canada shares this commitment to supporting youth justice, which is why it has undertaken a comprehensive review of the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA). The Government is committed to using fair and appropriate measures to hold young people accountable when they break the law. The youth criminal justice system must instil in young people a sense of responsibility for criminal behaviour and, at the same time, provide meaningful and effective opportunities for rehabilitation.
Through the YCJA Review, the National Anti-Drug Strategy, and the comprehensive Tackling Violent Crime Act, the Government will continue to develop an approach to youth justice which focuses not only on enforcement, but also on crime prevention and community involvement.
Canada’s youths sometimes need guidance to choose the right path. Police officers across this country play a key role in this regard as Canada continues to benefit from their unique experiences and extensive expertise.
On behalf of all Canadians, I thank this year’s award recipients and each and every officer for their hard work and ongoing dedication to keeping our communities safe.
The Honourable Rob Nicholson
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Minister of Justice National
Youth Justice Policing Award
The Minister of Justice National Youth Justice Policing Award was established by the Department of Justice in collaboration with the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police. The award recognizes police officers who, individually or as a team, develop approaches for dealing with youths in conflict with the law that go beyond the formal court system. It celebrates innovative policing, and serves to inform the police and the wider community about creative responses to youth crime.
Specifically, the award recognizes individuals or teams who draw upon the programs and approaches outlined in the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA), including:
using extrajudicial measures described under Part I of the YCJA (e.g. using warnings, cautions, referrals to community agencies, or not taking any further action as alternatives to the formal court system)
providing advice to decision makers about the youth justice process through consultations; or
contributing to the rehabilitation and reintegration of youths who have been found guilty.
To be considered for the award, nominees must have shown, through their actions, a clear commitment to helping young people understand the impact of their behaviour and to encouraging the involvement of parents, families and communities in the justice system.
Winner
Corporal James Cooley
(RCMP "E" Division)
Corporal James Cooley of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police “E” Division is the recipient of the 2008 Minister of Justice National Youth Justice Award.
Corporal Cooley has been an advocate of restorative justice since 1998 when, on a volunteer basis, he began facilitating Community Justice Forums and mentoring other individuals interested in restorative justice. Corporal Cooley quickly gained a reputation for his exemplary work and expertise, and was a natural choice to become RCMP “E” Division’s new Restorative Justice Program Director in 2003.
A Community Justice Forum is a safe, controlled environment in which a youth who has come in conflict with the law and a victim are brought together, along with their families, under the supervision of a trained facilitator. Together, they discuss the offence and the ways in which all parties have been affected, and then jointly develop a plan to correct the situation that has occurred. Offenders must accept responsibility for their actions, and are given the opportunity to better understand their impact on the people around them.
In addition to facilitating countless Community Justice Forums, Corporal Cooley travels across British Columbia providing training, developing resources, and meeting with government officials, community safety partners, police forces, and community leaders.
Corporal Cooley has trained over 1000 facilitators since 1998, and the number of restorative justice programs in British Columbia has expanded from 90 in 2005 to 141 in 2007, including 25 in Aboriginal communities. It is estimated that over 4000 restorative justice interventions occurred in 2007, the majority of which involved youths.
For the past 20 years, Corporal Cooley has been a strong voice for restorative justice at the local, provincial, and national levels. More importantly, he has given his time to helping youths in conflict with the law to learn the value of community involvement and personal responsibility.
Certificate of Distinction
Detective Constable Deborah Knight
(Durham Regional Police Service)
Detective Constable Deborah Knight of the Durham Regional Police Service is the recipient of the 2008 Certificate of Distinction for her work with the Youth in Action program.
Established in 2008, Youth in Action is a program which enables youths who reside in low-income housing developments to interact with their local police force in a positive way. Through open dialogue, information sessions, and a range of activities, Youth in Action helps young people who are – or are at risk of becoming – in conflict with the law to understand themselves, their strengths, and their role in and impact on their communities.
Youth in Action is a collaborative effort between the Durham Regional Police Service, Region of Durham Social Services, and Durham District School Board Continuing Education. It doubles as a grade eleven credit leadership course, which is offered in the community rooms of the housing developments. This has led many youths to re-enlist in the school system, and has allowed family, friends, and community leaders to be closely involved in the lives and education of the participants.
Detective Constable Knight was an essential partner in initiating this program, which uses education to engage at-risk youths in their own neighbourhoods. Her extraordinary efforts have had a positive impact on countless lives in the Durham Region, and she will continue to play an important role as the Youth in Action program expands.
