What is a Youth Justice Committee?
The group is an unlikely gathering of people. One is a lawyer during the day, the other at stay-at-home mom, and then there is the full-time university student and the grandfather of the group, who is far into well-deserved retirement. Despite the eclectic nature of this improbable cluster of adults, there is one common goal which binds them together, holding youth in conflict with the law accountable for their actions, while giving them an opportunity to avoid the formal justice system.
Chairs are arranged on the other side of the table from the team of adults, soon to be filled by youth and their parents who live in the same community. Some youth are nonchalant, others frightened, and some carry with them a quiet air of resignation. A few of the parents are noticeably tired, others are tense and concerned.
This is not the type of gathering of parents and youth which most people would associate with the usual hustle and bustle of a community association, it is a Youth Justice Committee meeting. The youth is a young offender, and the parents have been invited to accompany their child to a quasi-judicial process called a "Panel Hearing". The "Panel" consists of volunteers who are representing their communities as Youth Justice Committee members. They have not come here to establish guilt or blame, but to draft an agreement which will be effective in holding the young person accountable for their crime.
This is a scene which is repeated many times each week throughout the city. Youth Justice Committees gather at community centres and police stations throughout Calgary to meet with young offenders and their parents or guardians. As well as administering consequences which hold the youth accountable for their actions, Youth Justice Committee members also have more of an opportunity to look at the youth in front of them as an individual, and to come up with a plan that will link the youth back into services and programs within their own community. If the youth is participating in programs in their community or helping others in their community, they will feel more connected to the area in which they live, and less likely to commit crimes there.
Community neighbours, helping kids to make amends and get back on track.