The governments worked with the Ontario Court of Justice on this initiative
The federal and Ontario governments are set to open five new youth justice centre satellite locations in Toronto with the aim of limiting reoffending, championing community safety, and improving access to justice for Black and racialized young persons and families.
The governments partnered with the Ontario Court of Justice on this project, building on youth justice system transformation efforts in Toronto and the youth justice approach developed at the Toronto Northwest Justice Centre. The justice centre initiative is aligned with a joint investment geared towards tackling gun crime and violence often involving youth; it is also among the multi-ministry initiatives financed under Ontario’s five-year Guns, Gangs and Violence Reduction Strategy.
The new centres will provide intervention and wraparound supports to cut down reoffending in communities like Scarborough, Etobicoke, and North York. They are expected to process over 2,200 youth cases each year and provide participants with mental health, education, employment, and housing support services.
“Justice centres are transforming how justice is delivered across Ontario. With the expansion of five new satellite locations across Toronto, we are strengthening measures to protect Ontario by holding offenders accountable, supporting victims and survivors of crime and keeping communities safe,” said Doug Downey, Ontario’s attorney general, in a statement. “In collaboration with our partners, our work to expand the justice centre model to more communities across the province is helping break the cycle of offending and connecting more at-risk young adults with critical supports they need.”
Ontario Court of Justice chief justice Sharon Nicklas added that one of the court’s goals was to bolster the youth justice system.
“By addressing the intersecting risk factors that bring young people into contact with the courts, the Ontario Court of Justice – Toronto Youth Justice Centre and its satellites are developing an innovative, accountable, and principled approach – one that will lay the foundation for future youth justice models across the province,” she said.
The federal government has invested $13 million over four years in the justice centres located in London, Toronto Northwest, Toronto Downtown East, and Kenora. A fifth centre is being constructed in Barrie. The investment was made under Justice Canada’s Justice Partnership and Innovation Program.
Eighty-one percent of youth reported enhancing their education status after receiving support from the Toronto Northwest Justice Centre.
