Community Partnerships Symposium on Youth Justice Renewal

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Youth Roundtable

February 23^rd, 2000
Ottawa, Ontario

Report Prepared by:
Pytor Hodgson
CANVOI International

"Why don't people care about me
and what I have to say?"

15 year old youth in custody (1999)

Background

As part of the Youth Justice Renewal Initiative (YJRI), the Youth Justice Policy Section of the Department of Justice Canada hosted roundtables throughout late 1999 and early 2000 aimed at encouraging a partnership approach to youth justice in Canada.

These Roundtables included teachers, children’s advocates, mental health professionals and others who work with children and youth in Canada. Young people with diverse backgrounds, representing youth organizations, attended these Roundtables and the Department of Justice felt that they had many valuable insights and ideas, which could contribute to the success of the YJRI. Hence, the Department hosted one final Roundtable, exclusively for young Canadians, on February 23 in Ottawa.

Participants

Five youth organizations from across Canada were represented at the Roundtable. The youth from each organization ranged in age from 14 to 22 years old and came from different cultures and experiences.

Youth justice means something different to a young person living in a major urban centre than to a young person from a rural or smaller community. A peer helper would have a different outlook on the YJRI than a young person completing a disposition set out by a youth court. Youth justice affects Aboriginal youth living on Reserve and other young Canadians in different ways. The youth at the Roundtable reflect this combination of experiences and personal histories.

The youth and the organizations with which they are connected all do positive work in their communities and are all committed to youth helping youth initiatives.

All the youth who had taken part in the previous sessions were also invited back to take part in the Youth Roundtable.

Please see attachment for an overview of the organizations and youth involved.

Participants present at the discussion: See attached list

Process

Though the Youth Roundtable lasted one day, the process of sharing took place over six. Their first get-together was Tuesday, February 21, 2000 for an introduction meeting and an orientation session. Sharing who they were, why they came and what they hoped to get out of the week the youth began the process of sharing experiences and getting to know one another. One young person’s thoughts best summed up the group’s feelings from the first night:

"I don’t know if people are going to listen to me this week or not. But everyone who makes decisions about young offenders doesn’t have to live with them, [those decisions,]. I do. If I have a chance to speak out and tell people how it is…I will!"

On Wednesday, the 23^rd of February the 30 young people came together for the Youth Roundtable. With several people from the Department of Justice, the group examined four key points surrounding the YJRI. They were:

1. Preventing Crime
2. Alternatives to Custody – Dealing With Offending Behaviour In The Community
3. Custody and Rehabilitation
4. Reintegration – Helping Young People Who Have Been In Custody

Overview

The young people began their discussions by addressing some general issues that surround youth justice: What does youth crime mean? Is youth crime a problem in Canada? Why do young people commit crimes? Do adults have an unfair view of teenagers in Canada?

The responses were as diverse as the group itself. Yet, many common themes emerged, such as a need for an increased number of community programs for youth, more support for young people living in poverty, the connection between marginalized youth and criminal involvement, and the lack of understanding many adults have of young Canadians.

Community Programs

The group believed there is a strong need for young people to have access to community programs. Though many of these may target youth in general it is important to have specific programs geared to specific groups of youth. Identifying the different youth ‘communities’ is critical to the success of these programs. Assuming that all youth will fit into a program, (or even want or need such a program) is what leads to a program’s failure.

"…there’s not enough places to go to have fun and that’s probably one of the reasons why youth get involved with gangs and drugs."

The group also highlighted the importance of involving young people in the planning and implementation of programs and initiatives aimed at them.

Marginalized Youth

Marginalized young people in Canada encompass various communities. New Canadian youth, young people of colour, Aboriginal youth, young people living in poverty and those in the care of the government (social services) all have considerable barriers to overcome. The group highlighted the need to address issues specific to these communities and to ensure that these groups have strong and positive role models to which they can connect and relate.

Adults Perception of Youth

Adults’ perceptions of young people, specifically those involved with the criminal justice system, was a key concern for the participants. Their own words can best express their thoughts on this issue.

• "Sometimes it’s just a matter of the way you dress; people put you aside [and judge you]."
• "It’s like people are afraid of youth!"
• "It’s just like the book cover thing…you don’t judge a book by it’s cover – but people always judge me [that way]!"
• "Adults forget that youth need time to learn from [their] mistakes – it doesn’t happen overnight."
• "It’s not me who’s bad – I’ve just done bad things!"

The group felt that it is important for adults to examine their perception of young people and to recognise that youth sometimes act as adults expect them to. Many felt that adults only saw negative choices they had made and did not recognize or praise their positive activities and achievements.

"People never have a case conference for me when I am doing really well and I am volunteering and doing things like this, [the Roundtable], but if I mess things up then everyone comes to a meeting."

Preventing Crime

The group agreed that supporting children and youth can help them avoid conflict with the law. Considering this they addressed questions such as: What do people need to avoid getting involved with crime? How can communities help prevent crime? What is the role of youth in crime prevention?

Themes raised in relation to crime prevention reappeared throughout the day. Young people require access to community programs, ranging from sports activities to drop in centres. Though there are programs available, a barrier to their success is the lack of consistent funding. Many of the peer helpers discussed building relationships with youth and having to cut them off as the funding for their program had ended. They believed that this could be detrimental to young people who need long term supportive relationships; with a mentor or positive role models.

"I started work four months ago. I was in training for the first three months and now I am meeting other kids. But in two months the funding in the project is over. What happens now? Why should kids trust me to help them – they know I’m only around for a while."

Participants felt that they and their peers lacked people (including parents, teachers, and community leaders) who instilled positive and healthy values into their lives. The lack of this value system contributes to young people’s involvement in crime. For example, young people felt they were not being given responsibilities. Many felt that when youth are given more responsibility they become more responsible and feel more accountable.

The group pointed out the lack of positive youth images in the media across Canada. They suggested that there be ‘media liaisons’; designated young people trained in how to respond to negative media portrayals of youth. Youth in the news are too often those who are offending and in conflict with the law, those who are working to make positive change in their lives are often ignored. More positive coverage of the work of young people can encourage other youth to get involved with similar projects in their communities.

The media could play a vital role in educating other young people that it is acceptable and even ‘cool’ to help create change and to volunteer. The group spoke at great length of the importance to young people of feeling that they belong. Most felt that by volunteering youth often make positive choices in their own lives, as well as helping others make positive choices.

"I do this stuff to help others, ya, but I really do it because I know that it keeps me busy. It doesn’t mean that I always make good choices but it helps me feel better about doing good things. Ya, I am addicted to doing stuff like this – and that’s a good addiction."

Alternatives to Custody
– Dealing With Offending Behaviour In The Community

This discussion focussed on looking at meaningful consequences for those in conflict with the law. The majority of the group felt that though a secure setting is sometimes required, young people who commit offences - and their communities - are better served by the youth not going into a custodial setting.

Their thoughts on some non-custodial consequences include the following.

Probation –Those who liked probation felt it was critical for them to have one individual who they were accountable. Other participants had reservations regarding probation feeling that it sets youth up for failure – too many expectations with unfair consequences: for example, not attending school and ending up in custody or returning to jail for using drugs or alcohol or not having a permanent residence. They believe that many times a youth makes one bad choice, ends up on probation and then never leaves the youth justice system as they are perpetually being charged with breaches of their probation.

Victim Offender Reconciliation Programs (VORP) – Many felt that this was an excellent tool in helping young people avoid re-offending. They believed that VORP allows young people to hear, for real, how their crimes affected people. It was believed that guilt alone may help steer young people away from making the same choices again. This process was critical for both the victims and offenders as it provides closure to the issue for both parties.

Wilderness ‘Schools’ and Open Custody Settings (group homes) – It was felt a lack of skills can contribute to youth crime. Both Wilderness Schools and Group Home settings could provide young people the opportunity to learn the necessary skills to begin making healthy choices. These could include military style, which can teach self-discipline, a boot camp style or it could take a therapeutic approach depending on the needs of the young people. While in these centres, young people could work on both personal growth and work related skills.

Family Group Conferences – The group felt that these sessions could be very helpful for young people. Specifically, by being active participants in the process, young people might come to feel more accountable. Similar to VORP it provides closure for both the offenders and victims.

Community Service Work – Community Service Orders given to young offenders are often not as meaningful to them as hoped. Public speaking about their actions and types of community service connected to the crime they committed would make this a more meaningful consequence.

The youth believed it was important to ensure that whatever consequences young people are subject to, they should suit the young person and the crime and be culturally sensitive. As well they believed it critical to have the community ‘buy in’ to the process to better support extra-judicial measures.

Custody and Rehabilitation

The group understood that, while extra-judicial measures are preferable, some young people need to be held in secure facilities. The group had a series of recommendations to better provide service to someone who is serving custodial sentences.

1. Help the youth identify why they are involved with these criminal activities.
2. Work through the issues identified by youth, (e.g., drug abuse, abuse issues, etc.) and provide real support for them to deal with these issues.
3. Support youth on working on ‘self’ via art, recreation or spiritual programs.
4. Connect youth with peers who have made it through the ‘system’.
5. Create long term relationships with the youth that will continue after they leave the centre.
6. Provide life skills training so they will be better prepared when the return to the community.
7. Ensure that while in the centre they are given real responsibilities.

Throughout this discussion the group emphasized the crucial role peers and mentors can play. With the long term support of those to whom they can relate and those who will stand by them, young people will have more success in making positive choices when they return to the community.

Reintegration: Helping Young People Who Have Been In Custody

Should young people be strongly supported when they return to their communities they will be better prepared to avoid future criminal involvement. The group felt that there are several key elements to a successful reintegration process for youth.

1. Volunteering and Community Involvement
2. Continuation of Long Term Relationships
3. Continuation of Counseling and Support Services
4. Alternative Housing Placement (Group Home/Half-Way House)
5. Recreation Activities
6. Meaningful Community Service Work

Many participants felt that to having young people act as peer mentors could prove to be very useful to young offenders. Moreover, it is critical to examine the community where a youth was prior to being incarcerated to determine whether or not that environment was supportive enough for the young person to return there.

In closing the group drafted six key recommendations to help policy makers, service providers and politicians make decisions that will have a more positive affect on youth crime in Canada.  

1. Support youth helping youth initiatives. Young people can be a strong support to each other. Projects, programs and services that utilize peer support should be supported by government and community organizations.
2. Young people need positive role models. There are many individuals modeling negative behavior to youth in Canada. Young people must have positive adults and older youth to look up to, to learn from and to help guide them.
3. Young people must be given responsibilities in order to build self worth, self-esteem and self-value. These will help create a generation of responsible young adults.
4. Prevention programs are critical to a young person’s success. Issues like poverty, racism, ageism and other ‘isms’ lead to young people becoming disenfranchised. We must work to keep young people involved and active within their communities.
5. Reintegration is about long term assistance. It is helping to ensure that young people can re-enter school, the workforce and their community with new skills and constant support.
6. The media, and adults, in general must work to recognize and acknowledge the positive work of young people across the country. This will help increase the profile of young people in a positive light, helping re-shape adults views of youth while at the same time encouraging more young people to get involved.