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“Effective, just and humane
responses to crime and its causes”
The John Howard Society of Simcoe
and Muskoka has been providing services to members of this community
since 1998. With the population boom in Simcoe County, the expansion
of new schools, youth and the new Youth Criminal Justice Act, comes
a community responsibility to deal with the many issues that arise
in relation to our citizens. In partnership with the community,
our agency accepts the responsibility for understanding and dealing
with the origins of crime and the criminal justice systems.
There
are currently five different programs at the John Howard Society
of Simcoe and Muskoka. There is a Non-Residential Attendance Centre
in Orillia, Institutional Services, Community Work Programs – Intermittent
Module, Community Service Order Program- Adult, and Community Service
Order Program- Youth.
The Community Service Order Programs are
in existence due to the partnership with other organizations and
agencies in the Simcoe and Muskoka region. Adult and Youth clients
are court ordered to complete a certain number of community service
hours which must be completed for non-profit, charitable, or municipal
agency. In some cases, work may also be performed for private individuals,
depending on the circumstances.
Adult and Youth CSO clients are
low risk offenders and often first time offenders. When clients
come into our office, we complete an intake assessment with them
and then discuss where they would be interested in completing hours.
The client is most successful when we can match them up with a
placement of personal interest. The success of this program depends
in part on the placements ability to provide to clients pro-social
role modeling, a connection or re-connect with the client to his/her
community, continued support and the building of positive relationships.
We have had clients continue on at their placements once the hours
have been completed, due to the fact they have developed a rapport
with the placement and want to give back. The Adult and Youth CSO
Coordinator contact the placement supervisors to ensure that there
are hours available at the placement. Adult clients sign an “Authorization
for Release of Information” that gives the CSO Coordinator
permission to disclose the offence to only the placement supervisors.
Due to the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the Youth CSO Coordinator
is unable to disclose the youth’s offences to the placements
although recommendations can be made as to where the client would
be best placed.
Placement supervisors complete a “Placement
Provider Form” stating what days/times are available, how
many volunteers are needed, skills required, etc. Supervisors are
able to note exclusionary offences (particular offences supervisors
would not feel suitable for the placement). The John Howard Society
provides log books for clients to utilize in order to track their
hours. Once clients have completed their hours, the Adult CSO or
Youth CSO Coordinator contact the placement supervisors to verify
the hours.
The John Howard Society of Simcoe & Muskoka wishes
to thank all of the community service order placement providers.
These dedicated and involved individuals provide opportunities
for our clients to work with positive role models, acquire pro-social
skills and gain valuable work experience and skills.
Just to name
a few of the many valuable community partners participating in
the Adult and Youth CSO program:
The Barrie Public Library, Furry
Friends Cat Shelter, The Salvation Army Thrift Store- (Essa Rd
and Bayfield St.), The Salvation Army Bayside Mission, Society
of St. Vincent de Paul, Essa Recreation Centre, Elmvale Library,
Allandale Recreation Centre, Barrie Community Centre, City of Barrie,
Habitat for Humanity- Restore, Elmvale Arena, Stroud Arena, Lefroy
Arena, Thornton Arena, Barrie Young People’s Centre, Barrie
B.I.A., The Elizabeth Fry Society, The Barrie SPCA, Youth Haven,
The Helping Hand, The Clothes Line, The Alliston Good Food Box,
Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library, Innisfil Community Church,
Alcona Beach Club, The Angus Legion |
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