Bulletin: Intervening With At-Risk Youth

Interventions that help offenders, particularly youth, understand the impact of their actions on their victims and communities are proving to be particularly effective. The Restorative Justice Program is perhaps the best example. This community-led program will be expanded so more at-risk youth get the support they need to lead productive lives that no longer put their communities at risk.

Working with the Community Justice Society and other community leaders, the province will support a restorative justice outreach program, based on a program in the Boston area. The Nova Scotia project will help young people cope with anger and resolve conflict before they commit a crime (or commit a more serious crime), by helping young people make stronger connections with their families and within their communities, and by offering conflict resolution sessions that focus on building social skills and making positive choices. As well, these youth will be linked to education and employment programs that help them develop the skills they need to live self-sufficiently and out of harm's way.

The province will build on its sponsorship of the Community Justice Society African Nova Scotian Pilot Project. First, the Community Justice Society of Halifax is working with the Law Foundation of Canada to develop the curriculum for an educational and self-esteem program for children ages eight to 12. Second, the province will provide funding to work with two communities and police in creating a community conflict resolution process.

The Island Community Justice Society developed a pilot project called Children at the Critical Hour (CATCH). The project is designed to help, and hold accountable, children aged eight to 12 who have harmed others or have harmed property. As the program is voluntary, the family is fully committed to getting support in guiding their children to better choices. This is critical, not just as a deterrent, but to "catch" children at a young age, before they get into more serious trouble. It is also an opportunity to instill values that will help children grow into responsible, caring adults.

Investment:

• Restorative justice outreach program $260,000
• Community Justice Society African Nova Scotian Pilot Project, $128,000
• Children at the Critical Hour $72,000.

Sites:

• Restorative justice outreach program, Halifax Regional Municipality
• Community Justice Society African Nova Scotian Pilot Project, Mulgrave Park, East Preston
• Children at the Critical Hour Cape Breton.

Strategy Links: Intervention, see p. 45; Prevention, pp. 53–54, Time to Fight Crime Together

The complete crime prevention strategy is available online at www.gov.ns.ca .