Instead of going through the court system, first-time and minor offenders have the opportunity to participate in Extra Judicial Sanctions (EJS) programs. Each year we provide community placements and programming for 300 young people charged under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Youth can be referred to one or both of our EJS programs.
Community Service Order
This program is offered to youth who have been sanctioned to complete a specific amount of community service hours. We place and supervise youth in community based and non-profit agencies to ensure they successfully complete their required hours.
Workshops
We offer a series of workshops in three different categories: Drugs, Assault and Theft. Our educational workshops are interactive and provide youth with a safe space to discuss their behaviours.
Going through the court system can be troubling and confusing for youth and their families. We can help by:
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assisting with applications for Legal Aid
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finding a lawyer attending court appearances
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offering programs to address young people's needs
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liaising with Probation Services, Police, Children’s Aid Society, school administrators and community agencies
Sometimes, the best approach is to prevent problems before they occur. Our Alternatives to Hate program was designed as an alternative to traditional anger management. We focus on the root cause of hate and oppression based on race, culture, gender and class. Youth meet once a week for eight weeks to examine their own biases and critically challenge stereotypes. This program is led by staff who help youth cope with sensitive issues such as homophobia, racism and oppression.