2017 Annual Report

Youth Justice. Restorative Justice. Social Justice. A Message from Table of Our Vision our Founder and Contents Youth realizing their full Executive Director potential and building safe and peaceful communities. 2017 was a year of change both in and at 03 Peacebuilders. A Message from our Founder and Executive Director What does it mean? Peacebuilders launched two new programs in 2017 as Peacebuilders envisions justice and education part of our commitment to advance restorative practices, 04 systems that are committed to helping youth, enhance youth access to justice, and work towards a more A Statistical Snapshot of Youth in especially those who are vulnerable and just and equitable society by advocating for the interests Conflict with the Law marginalized. We forsee systems that adapt to and needs of young people. young peoples’ needs—that actually engage youth divert more young people from court and keep them out and communities and make them stronger. That’s The first, our Restorative Schools Early Diversion Pilot of the criminal justice system altogether. 06 why we use restorative practices to work with Project, works in partnership with the Toronto District Restorative Justice youth and empower them to overcome conflict School Board, the , Justice for We also welcome the Toronto District School Board’s and realize their full potential. Children and Youth, and other stakeholders to intervene decision to end the School Resource Officer Program 08 at various points along the school-to-prison pipeline. and remove 36 police officers from 45 of the TDSB’s Restorative Schools We do this by using restorative practices as alternatives 112 schools. This decision is an important step in Our Mission to suspensions, expulsions, and charges, and as a way of rethinking the relationship between our education and supporting youth in conflict at school. criminal justice systems—a policy shift that Peacebuilders To increase the capacity of 10 continues to champion. Circle Keepers youth, schools, communities, The second, our Advocacy and Public Legal Education and the justice system program, builds on Peacebuilders’ 15 years of experience Increased referrals to our court-diversion program and working in our justice and education systems, to advocate new initiatives have allowed us to bring on several new 12 to communicate and for the needs and perspectives of young people. We are staff, volunteers, and board members this year. Advocacy and Public Legal manage conflict through also conducting an evaluation of our court-diversion We are inspired by the tremendous work of our Education Peacebuilding dialogues. program with criminologist, Scot Wortley. staff, volunteers, board, advisors, and especially the commitment of our young people, who remind us of These programs demonstrate our ongoing leadership in what we can accomplish when we work together. 14 What does it mean? Thank You to our Supporters the field as our city adopts new policies and programs. In Peacebuilders promotes the use of restorative June, the Toronto Police Service launched a pre-charge Sincerely, principles and practices in our justice and diversion program for youth. Its aim is to keep young 15 education systems, and in our communities, people out of the courts by diverting them to supportive Who We Are through advocacy and restorative justice programs community services for non-violent offences. The that use Peacebuilding Circles. initiative is an important opportunity to prevent young people from getting trapped in the revolving door of Eva E. Marszewski, Elisha Muskat the criminal justice system. With the right consultation, O.Ont, L.S.M. Executive Director evaluation and feedback, this protocol has the potential to Founder and CEO

2 | PEACEBUILDERS CANADA • ANNUAL REPORT 2017 YOUTH JUSTICE • RESTORATIVE JUSTICE • SOCIAL JUSTICE | 3 More than 50% Only 1 in 5 of Toronto youth between children who need mental the ages of 15 and 24 health services receive don’t have jobs. them in Canada. A Statistical Snapshot Young people in — Many youth with diagnosed and of Youth in Conflict especially in Toronto— undiagnosed mental health issues end are among the least up in the youth justice system instead with the Law employed in the country. of receiving the mental health care they need. Approximately 40% of youth in A criminal record, or even an encounter custody in Ontario have mental health with the criminal justice system, can make diagnoses. Most youth who come into contact with the justice While we track our work with statistics, the value of it even more difficult for young people to system are vulnerable or marginalized. The justice system Peacebuilders’ programs is about more than just the secure employment. is not equipped to address the underlying issues that lead numbers. We take a youth-centred approach that builds to conflict with the law. Peacebuilders’ work with young conflict resolution skills in young people that we hope will people focuses on diverting them out of the justice system guide them over their lifetimes. 40,000 youth in before trial and focusing on longer term solutions that go Canada spend part of beyond the specific incident. 1 in 4 the year homeless. In kids in Toronto live Toronto, 78% of homeless below the poverty line. youth reported at least one Young people who live in poverty of all 19,490 school negative encounter with 56% days were missed as a experience barriers to accessing services police over the past year. individuals charged with and resources that support positive a crime in Ontario are result of suspensions from development and future success. These Many of the “criminal behaviours” that youth. But youth only the Toronto District School barriers contribute to conflict with the street-involved youth are arrested for Board in 2015-2016. justice system. are a result of the many challenges represent 23% of the associated with being homeless. province’s population. We know that suspensions are not only ineffective, but also inequitable: racialized students Few of the young people who end up are 3 times more likely to be suspended for the in court are serious offenders. But an same behaviours as their white peers. Students interaction with the justice system— Black and Indigenous youth are with special education needs make up more than 2x more Black, Indigenous and even just one appearance in court— 60% of suspensions annually. Evidence shows overrepresented in the youth racialized youth report being stopped and increases a young person’s risk of that harsh school disciplinary measures are justice system at 4 to 5 times future conviction by almost 25%. associated with entry into the justice system. searched by police than non-racialized youth. the rate of their white peers.

4 | PEACEBUILDERS CANADA • ANNUAL REPORT 2017 YOUTH JUSTICE • RESTORATIVE JUSTICE • SOCIAL JUSTICE | 5 OUR IMPACT

Restorative 100 80 41 3,000 Justice referrals young people peer-to-peer lunches were were made to had charges Peacebuilding provided to young Peacebuilders’ withdrawn Circles with people appearing Restorative Youth before trial court-involved in court Circles Program youth Keeping young people out of 56% of all “…in Peacebuilders I learned methods to stop our drama, take a the criminal justice individuals charged with a deep breath, take a step back, and work through any problem.” system crime in Ontario are youth. But youth only represent When the Youth Criminal Justice Act was passed in 23% of the province’s 2002, Canada had one of the highest rates of youth A Poem by M.A. incarceration in the western world. In the last fifteen years, population. First off, let me take responsibility, the shift towards community-based interventions and the I know that I was wrong because this was a loss and not a victory. Act’s emphasis on non-court responses and alternative Jail is not where I belong, just the thought of it sickens me. measures, such as restorative justice, have led our youth continue to be overrepresented in the criminal justice system. I want to forget this fight but I remember it vividly. I wish I could change all the variables. M and S got into a fight incarceration rate to decline by 75%. With more funding and recognition for the effectiveness of Maybe shouldn’t have answered the phone or walked away and trust me over a girl that led to restorative justice—and less reliance on police and courts to I know it’s terrible, losing my friend is unbearable Shortly after the Act was passed, Peacebuilders began address youth misbehaviour—we could keep hundreds more To the point where I’m hysterical. M’s arrest. M completed I literally see the new change in me because I know I am unbreakable. Peacebuilders’ RYC running restorative justice and court-diversion programs young people in Toronto from ending up in court every year. I learned how to avoid the fight; I’ve had nightmares every night. program in 2017. At the in Toronto. In the first year, we received 20 referrals. Our Me and S were so close, and now our friendship is out of sight. program now receives more than 100 referrals annually. That’s why our restorative court-diversion program, I regret the fight every day, if I saw him I would say, end of the program, “I’m sorry bro, and I hope you know, that if I could I would’ve walked away.” he wrote this spoken We also help hundreds of other youth and families Restorative Youth Circles (RYC), takes a different approach After the fight, in Peacebuilders I learned methods to stop our drama. word poem about his navigate the justice system through court support and to access to justice—one that is about more than getting Take a deep breath, take a step back, and work through any problem. by connecting youth with community services, such as access to courts and legal services. It’s about meeting young Now everything’s done, and the pain has just begun, experience and shared it And now we can never solve them. with the judge and Crown education, employment and counselling. people where they’re at and providing services that wrap I hate the fact that I can’t be friends with you anymore. attorney who agreed to around the individual and adapt to their needs. It’s about All these charges and issues made me ask what really was it for? But there’s more we can do. Despite declining incarceration empowering young people and investing in their futures— I know it was a problem as soon as I walked out my front door, drop his charges. I was never happy after this fight, just tired—confused—and sad. and crime rates, our most vulnerable and marginalized youth and keeping them out of the criminal justice system. Trust me and way more.

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Restorative 2 40 80 87 Schools schools adopted school staff, school staff trained referrals to restorative including teachers on issues that Peacebuilders’ programs and administrators, impact youth in Restorative trained in their communities Schools program restorative between practices September and Making schools The Early Diversion Pilot Project is not just about December responding to specific incidents, it is also about changing safer for learning the way we think about student misbehaviour and and development working within the education system to create more effective and responsive disciplinary policies. There are “We’re the youth. Our voice needs to be heard because we’re who When young people get in trouble at school, suspensions numerous ways we can stop a young person’s progression this project is about...” down the school-to-prison pipeline. That’s why our and expulsions often follow. But research shows that – Moses, grade 12 student at Eastdale Collegiate Institute and member of the Youth Advisory suspensions and expulsions do not make schools safer or Restorative Schools program offers programming to alter bad behaviour; nor do they address the underlying prevent conflict, intervenes when conflict arises, and circumstances that led to the conflict. supports reintegration into the school community after Far too often, the voices of youth are missing from advisory body to the City of Toronto) on the relationship the conflict has been resolved. discussions and policy debates about school discipline. between youth and police in the city. Punitive forms of discipline negatively impact young The Restorative Schools Youth Advisory ensures that people’s well-being, health and academic achievement, and student voices are not only heard, but also inform every As Moses, a grade 12 student at Eastdale and active are associated with entry into the youth justice system. aspect of the project. participant in the Youth Advisory, described it, “We’re the Peacebuilders’ Early Diversion Pilot Project builds on 19,490 school youth. Our voice needs to be heard because we’re who the Students from Eastdale Collegiate Institute and Central project is about and we’re a big voice in it.” our experience running restorative programs in schools days were missed as a and courts. With funding from the Ontario Trillium Technical School meet regularly to discuss the project, Foundation, we partnered with Toronto District School result of suspensions as well as issues at each school and in their communities. Some students joined the Youth Advisory after they Board, Toronto Police Service, Justice for Children from the Toronto In addition to being regular participants at our monthly participated in the Peacebuilders’ program. As a member of and Youth, community organizations, and high-school District School Board Steering Committee meetings and our biannual Advisory the Youth Advisory at Central Technical School explained, Council meetings, the Youth Advisory participates “It’s important to hear from kids because we’re the ones that students to develop an alternative model for addressing in 2015-2016. school-based conflict and student misbehaviour. The in many community activities and discussions. These get in trouble. We know what’s going on at the school.” model is being piloted at Central Technical School and include the School Resource Officer consultations in Eastdale Collegiate Institute from September 2017 – October, Peacebuilders’ Community Forum on the The Youth Advisory is an important opportunity for May 2019. Future of Youth Courts in November, and focus groups advocates and decision-makers to meet with and hear with the Toronto Youth Cabinet (the official youth directly from young people.

8 | PEACEBUILDERS CANADA • ANNUAL REPORT 2017 YOUTH JUSTICE • RESTORATIVE JUSTICE • SOCIAL JUSTICE | 9 “Circles provide a safe space for young people to Circle speak and be heard.” Keepers Natasha Boakye-Yiadom has volunteered with Peacebuilders since 2015. She is a Circle Keeper and member of the Volunteer Committee. She shared some reflections.

What have you learned about young people by volunteering as a Circle Keeper? Building strong and Peacebuilding Circles to resolve conflict and repair I have learned not to judge a youth by their charges. There are a number of things that might have happened that could harm. Volunteer Circle Keepers play an essential role at lead a young person to conflict with the law. It’s easy to stereotype kids who get in trouble with the law, but in a Circle healthy communities Peacebuilders because they co-facilitate our restorative you find out that things didn’t exactly happen the way they were reported by the police, or there was miscommunication, court-diversion and school-based programs. or it was just ‘kids being kids’ and they were charged as criminals. Volunteering with Peacebuilders has encouraged me to Peacebuilders’ Circle Keeper program provides training have an open mind about people—especially young people. and workshops on restorative justice and Peacebuilding Growing research shows that initiatives that cultivate Circles to community members, students, teachers, justice positive relationships with strong role models have What have you learned about the justice system? professionals, and many others. transformative effects on young people and help foster resilience. For young people in conflict with the law or in Sometimes the justice system can be very unjust. We should really be serving our youth. We should be providing them Over the last decade, Peacebuilders has trained trouble at school, the support of our dedicated staff and with the tools they need to succeed because they are the next generation. And yes, people who commit serious crimes hundreds of volunteers to use restorative practices and volunteer Circle Keepers makes an incredible difference. need to be dealt with, but there’s another way—a more effective way—so youth aren’t destroyed for the rest of their lives.

I was working with a youth who was charged with assault, but he was just trying to break-up a fight between two other OUR IMPACT boys. A month after the fight, he got a call from the police asking if he was involved. At first, he thought it was a prank, and then they told him to come down to the police station. He was charged. The police took his fingerprints. It was just boys roughing around and he got caught up in it. Then he got caught up in the system, and Peacebuilders had to divert him.

Why are programs like Peacebuilders important?

Peacebuilders provides another means to deal with conflict—another way for young people to talk about the problems 16 20 80 400 1200 they experience. Using a talking piece to ensure the youth’s voice is heard. Everyone respects the youth’s voice. They trainings on new volunteer active Peacebuilding volunteer don’t have to fear that what they’re saying will be relayed to other people—or back to the court. There is confidentiality. restorative Circle Keepers Circle Keepers Circles hours So you’re really able to build trust with the youth. Circles provide a safe space for young people to speak and be heard. practices and trained facilitated by Peacebuilding volunteers Circles

10 | PEACEBUILDERS CANADA • ANNUAL REPORT 2017 YOUTH JUSTICE • RESTORATIVE JUSTICE • SOCIAL JUSTICE | 11 OUR IMPACT

Advocacy and 50 100 18 justice professionals and community members, youth youth-serving Public Legal Education experts participated in workers, parents, and young organizations consulted a roundtable discussion people with lived experience on best practices for about youth courts in participated in a community youth courts Toronto forum about the future youth courts in Toronto Effecting change in our justice and education systems Promoting the needs justice, currently in place at the Ontario Court of Justice at 311 . Peacebuilders’ Advocacy and Public Legal Education program seeks to enhance youth access to justice and fundamentally and perspectives of transform our justice and education systems so that they meaningfully engage youth and make communities stronger. youth and families Youth, families, lawyers and judges all made repeated reference to 311 Jarvis Street, a highly-regarded youth We do this by advocating for more restorative responses to conflict in our justice and education systems, and by court in Toronto, and the home of Peacebuilders’ court- promoting the needs and perspectives of young people. Youth are rarely consulted on the decisions that affect their lives. On November 27, Peacebuilders held a community diversion program, Restorative Youth Circles. 311 Jarvis In order to design the best policies for youth, we need to develop them with young people. forum about the future of youth courts in Toronto that brought together justice professionals, youth workers, has pioneered a very different model for youth justice that brings together family courts, youth courts, and youth With the support of a staff lawyer and two articling students, we developed research on diversion, both pre- and post- parents and young people with experience in the justice support services under one roof. Opened in 1957, it was charge, and on record suspensions and peace bonds. This research will be used to educate young people and their families system. It was an opportunity to discuss how the Ministry designed to be “more clinic, than court,” fostering a child- about the justice system and advocate for better policies and practices. We also began addressing the access to justice of the Attorney General’s plans to include youth in an centred approach to youth justice that aims to address the issues for youth that will arise from the Ministry of the Attorney General’s plans for the new Toronto courthouse. amalgamated criminal courthouse designed for adults will affect young people in conflict with the law. underlying factors that lead young people to conflict with the law, including problems at home, poverty and under- Few of the young people who end up in court are serious Over 100 people attended and shared their concerns. housing, substance use and mental health issues. offenders. But research shows that an interaction with Safety and security concerns were repeatedly raised by parents who worry about how young people will be Peacebuilders will continue to advocate for the needs and the justice system—even just one appearance in court— protected at a criminal courthouse that is expected to perspectives of youth and families to ensure that any plans increases a young person’s risk of future conviction by handle 40,000, mostly adult, criminal cases a year. One concerning justice-involved youth are based on youth of the most consistent concerns was lack of accessibility input and best practices. almost 25%. for young people—some of whom will have a two hour commute to make court appearances. Most importantly, no one wants to lose the child-centred approach to youth

12 | PEACEBUILDERS CANADA • ANNUAL REPORT 2017 YOUTH JUSTICE • RESTORATIVE JUSTICE • SOCIAL JUSTICE | 13 WHO WE ARE OUR STAFF Thank You to Founder & CEO Elisha Muskat Eva E. Marszewski, O.Ont., L.S.M. Executive Director Our Supporters HONOURARY PATRONS Dhiana Alfonzo The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean Bookkeeper C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D. We are proud to acknowledge the following foundations and organizations whose generous contributions between 27th Governor General and Commander in Chief of Canada Ali Belisle January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017 helped us work towards a more just and equitable society for our young people. (2005-2010) Restorative Schools Coordinator

Institutional Funders The Honourable Louise Arbour Rachelle Bloomfield C.C, G.O.Q. Restorative Schools Coordinator Counsel, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP Carl Chu The Honourable Warren K. Winkler Director of Financial and Fundraising Management O.C., O.Ont, Q.C. L.L.D. (Hon.) Former Chief Justice of Ontario Phillip Chuck Jr. The Honourable Roy McMurtry Youth Diversion Coordinator O.C., O.Ont Former Chief Justice of Ontario Jody Dunn Manager, Restorative Justice Programs Peace Partners and Colleagues BOARD OF DIRECTORS Kristina Arena Sara Fruchtman Anonymous Chris G. Paliare The J and B Jill Blakey Communications and Public Policy Coordinator Carroll Family Maureen Callahan Foundation Michael Ceccarelli Shekinah Kaly Adam Delva Office Administrator Paul Dempsey Erica Lalonde 2017 Financial Highlights Thank you to our 2017 Spring Carol Denman Manager, Restorative Schools Program Jordan Eizenga In 2017, Peacebuilders’ total revenues were for Peace and Charity Gold Andrew Freedman Robert Mason $1,006,987 and total expenses were $1.092,379. Tournament supporters. Geoffrey Goad Public Interest Articling Fellow Please contact us for our 2017 financial statements. Dorion Kingsmill Melanie Langill Spring for Peace 2017 Gold Sponsors Eliana Paredes Trish Nixon Volunteer and Circle Resource Coordinator Annual Report Design Deloitte The Moveable Feast COUNCIL OF ADVISORS Design: Scott Newlands Creative | scottnewlands.com Management Paliare Roland Rosenberg Professor Kathy Bickmore Laura Sardella Services LP Youth Justice and Advocacy Lawyer Photography: Yasin Osman | yescene.com Rothstein LLP Professor Anthony Doob, C.M., F.R.S.C. Houzayfa Mahamat Zene and Yassir Ahmed Gluskin Sheff The Honourable Glenn A. Hainey Power Workers’ Union Barbara Murray Maya Soren #shootforpeace ECN Capital Corp. Paul Stoyan Articling Student Royal Bank of Canada Barry Stuart esri Canada Ryan Teschner

14 | PEACEBUILDERS CANADA • ANNUAL REPORT 2017 YOUTH JUSTICE • RESTORATIVE JUSTICE • SOCIAL JUSTICE | 15 Each Spring, Peacebuilders holds its annual fundraising gala, Spring for Peace. Visit www.springforpeace.com for more information.

Peacebuilders International (Canada) 585 Dundas St. E, Suite 300. Toronto, ON M5A 2B7 www.peacebuilders.ca Follow us: @PeacebuildersCA RESTORATIVE SCHOOLS: REASONS FOR REFERRAL

PREVENTION INTERVENTION REINTEGRATION

Discretionary Student Early intervention Behavioural support Transfer

Classroom Focus Alternative to Non-Discretionary suspension Student Transfer Community-Building

Focus Alternative to Fresh Start expulsion

Support during suspension Alternative to charges

Post-Incident School Climate Prevention Plan

Return from arrest

ADVOCACY RESTORATIVE SCHOOLS EARLY DIVERSION PILOT PROJECT

Making schools safer places for learning and development

WHAT IS THE EARLY DIVERSION PILOT PROJECT?

When young people get in trouble at school, suspensions and expulsions often follow. But research shows that suspensions and expulsions do not make schools safer or alter bad behaviour; nor do they address the underlying circumstances that led to the conflict.

Punitive forms of discipline have been shown to negatively impact young people’s well-being, health and academic achievement, and are associated with entry into the youth justice system—what is commonly referred to as the “school-to-prison-pipeline.”

Peacebuilders’ Early Diversion Pilot project takes a different approach. Building on our experience running restorative programs in schools, we partnered with the Toronto District School Board, the Toronto Police Service, Justice for Children and Youth, and high-school students to develop an alternative model for addressing school-based conflict and student misbehaviour. With the support of community organizations and a youth advisory, our approach is to develop, implement, and evaluate a model for using restorative practices in high-schools to reduce harsh disciplinary policies, diminish police involvement in student conflict, and build up supportive school communities.

About Peacebuilders Peacebuilders is a Canadian charitable organization based in Toronto that provides programs and services to young people and works towards effecting change in our justice and education systems. Peacebuild- ers uses restorative practices to keep young people out of the criminal justice system, make schools safer places for learning and development, and build strong and healthy communities. Visit www.peacebuilders.ca. or follow us @PeacebuildersCA

PEACEBUILDERS CANADA YOUTH JUSTICE | RESTORATIVE JUSTICE | SOCIAL JUSTICE HOW IT WORKS

STEP 1 STEP 2 STEP 3 STEP 4

A teacher, administrator, The students meet with When the program is used Peacebuilders staff follow parent, or student makes Peacebuilders staff to to address a conflict, all up with the participants a referral to Peacebuilders. begin programming. participants develop a and the referral source to common resolution, which determine whether the A referral form must be Peacebuilding Circles are is presented to the referral resolution is working and completed and students used to work through source. if not, how to meet the must consent to participate conflict, build relationships, needs of all participants. in the program. and have important e.g. Students establish a conversations in a safe safety agreement that Participation is voluntary. and supportive requires them to sit far environment. away from each other in class.

WHO CAN MAKE A REFERRAL? Referrals can be made by a variety of different people, including school administrators, teaching staff, the EJM Coordinator with the Ministry of Children and Youth Services, police, students, guardians and community members.

WHERE DOES THE PROGRAM TAKE PLACE?

The program is being piloted from September 2017 to June 2019 at:

Eastdale Collegiate Institute Central Technical School

For more information or to make a referral, please contact: Erica Lalonde Restorative Schools Program Manager [email protected] 647-649-3777

Peacebuilders is grateful to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for their ongoing support and partnership in this important initative. An agency of the Government of Ontario. Un organisme du gouvernement de l’Ontario.

PEACEBUILDERS CANADA YOUTH JUSTICE | RESTORATIVE JUSTICE | SOCIAL JUSTICE Who is eligible?

RYC works with court-involved youth between the ages of 12 and 18. We provide assistance to youth who are required to appear at the following court locations: • 311 Jarvis Street • 2201 West • 1911 East RESTORATIVE YOUTH Referrals

Youth can be referred to our program in the CIRCLES following ways: • Informal Diversion: Includes self-referral and referrals from lawyers, Crown, judge, police, teachers, family, community organizations etc. • EJS (Extrajudicial Sanctions): Referred by Crown and probation

Contact

For further program information, referrals and The Ontario Court of Justice, intake, please contact: Youth Court Jody Dunn, Justice Program Manager 311 Jarvis St., Room 150 416-960-9778 | [email protected] Toronto, ON M5B 2C4

The Ontario Court of Justice, Youth Court 311 Jarvis Street, Office 150 416-960-9778 Toronto, ON M5B 2C4 www.peacebuilders.ca

Youth Justice Restorative Justice Social Justice A restorative justice How does it work? and court-diversion 1. Intake Interview & 3. Individual Circles Needs Assessment (6 sessions) & Personal Reflection program for youth in JJ 45 min – 1hr JJ Weekly after school JJ Location: 311 Jarvis Street, the justice system. sessions Youth Court, Room 150 JJ Location: Various JJ Parents/supportive individuals locations around downtown Toronto are encouraged to attend JJ 2 Circle Keepers assigned to each case What is RYC? JJ The interview is confidential JJ The young person reflects on the conflict in JJ Required documents: police synopsis and bail Peacebuilders’ Restorative Youth Circles (RYC) is a a safe and supportive environment court-diversion program for young people between conditions the ages of 12 and 18. RYC invites youth, and when JJ The young person prepares a personal appropriate, their families and community members reflection for the court to participate in a restorative justice process. RYC is designed to determine what factors led to the incident, 2. Peer Circles (6 sessions) 4. Report to the Court the extent of the young person’s responsibility, and also help the young person develop resolutions to make JJ Weekly after school sessions JJ Justice Program Manager and Circle amends and work towards a positive future. JJ Location: MLSE Launchpad at Keepers prepare 259 Jarvis Street a report outlining What does RYC do? JJ Peer-led conversations about the young person’s Circle Values facilitated by progress and relevant RYC assists court-involved youth by: RYC staff circumstances

• Meeting with the young person and their family JJ Recreational activities supported by the JJ Staff and Circle Keepers accompany the • Completing an intake/ needs assessment MLSE Launchpad youth to the final court date • Supporting the youth’s strengths and needs JJ Dinner and tokens provided JJ Report and personal reflection are shared with the court, including defence counsel, • Connecting young people with supportive peers Crown attorney and referral source and mentors • Providing guidance to assist the young person in establishing and attaining their goals • Ensuring assistance is provided throughout the court process Since 2002, almost all of the young • Making referrals to appropriate community-based programs people who have participated in RYC have seen their charges dropped.