Ontario’s Four Justice Centre Pilots:
New & Innovative Community-Driven Justice Models
We are pleased to announce the third webinar in our ongoing series on Ontario’s Four Justice Centre Pilots. Register now for the Toronto Downtown East Justice Centre Webinar. Recordings from our previous webinars are linked below.
The Ministry of the Attorney General is innovating how justice is delivered to vulnerable, racialized and marginalized populations by developing and launching four pilot Justice Centres across the province.
Ontario’s Justice Centre pilots are innovative community courts premised on the co-location and integrated service delivery of justice, health and social services. By moving justice out of the traditional courtroom and into a community setting, justice participants collaborate and coordinate with on-site social, health, mental health, addictions and housing providers to provide holistic wrap-around services for vulnerable accused persons. By integrating early supports into the justice process, these Centres can reduce recidivism, minimize time spent in jail on remand, and improve outcomes for Ontario’s most justice-involved and high-needs communities. Working with community, MAG’s Justice Centre pilots are recalibrating the way justice is delivered in Ontario and paving the way for reconceiving – and bettering – the justice/community interface.
The first Justice Centre pilot was launched in London in September 2020; the Toronto Downtown East and Toronto Northwest pilots both launched in May 2021; and the Kenora pilot is tracking to launch in Late Spring 2022 TBC.
This webinar series will provide an in-depth discussion on each of Ontario’s Justice Centre pilots with a focus on describing how each has been uniquely developed by and for the community it serves, examining how each site supports the needs of specialized populations within their community, as well as highlighting the key community partnerships the support successful operation.
The London Justice Centre
Tuesday, June 14, 2022 @ 12:00-1:00 pm
The London Justice Centre provides targeted supports for young adults aged 18-24 who are not in employment, education or training (NEET). Operating out of a well-established local youth services hub, the London JC recognises the unique needs of emerging adults and prioritizes meaningful connections to skills and job training programs, education supports as well as mental health and addictions services to help participants avoid and exit the adult criminal justice system.
Speakers:
• Noelle Brady (London Justice Centre Crown)
• Kelly Geraci (London Justice Centre Case Management Coordinator)
• Mike Brooks (Manager – Justice Centres)
• Erika Sweitzer (Manager – Diversion Services, St. Leonard’s Community Services and Co-Chair, HSJCC
Watch the webinar recording.
The Toronto Northwest Justice Centre
Thursday, June 16 2022 @ 12:00-1:00 pm
The Toronto Northwest (TNW) is a response to community violence and gun crime that is aimed at addressing the impact of the intersection of poverty and criminal justice on youth and particularly racialized youth (aged 12-17). The TNW aims to meet underlying need, break the cycle of offending and address the ongoing systemic problem of the overrepresentation of young Black and racialized offenders by providing youth with enhanced opportunities to improve social and economic futures by re-connecting with education, developing life skills, improving family relationships, and addressing mental health and substance abuse concerns.
Speakers:
• Miriam Henry (TNW Justice Centre Crown)
• Scott McKean (SafeTO Manager, City of Toronto & Justice Centres)
• Lul Omar and Chelsea Davis (System Navigators, Lumenus Community Services)
• Kemi Jacobs (Executive Director, Delta Family Resource Centre)
• Kaffie Abdirashid (Education Advocate, Justice for Children & Youth)
Watch the webinar recording.
Please register for each webinar separately, and stay tuned for the announcement of future webinar dates. Webinars will be recorded for those who are unable to attend.
