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Minister of Justice National Youth Justice Policing Award 2011
- Message from the Minister
- Minister of Justice National Youth Justice Policing Award
- Winner
- Video of winner for 2011
- Certificate of Distinction
- Transcript of video
Message from the Minister
As Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, I would like to congratulate the recipients of the 2011 Minister of Justice National Youth Justice Policing Award.
This award recognizes the personal efforts made by police officers - as individuals and as members of teams - for their dedication and commitment to finding new ways to deal with youth who come into conflict with the law. Police officers have an important role in holding youth accountable and helping them to understand the consequences of their actions, while providing the guidance they need to make smarter choices in the future. It is this relationship that provides officers with the chance to make a difference in the lives and futures of the youth with whom they come into contact.
The officers being honoured today have developed and implemented innovative projects that help young people improve their situations and make better choices. By providing youth with alternatives to criminal life and by helping them to truly understand the consequences of their actions, the officers being honoured today assist these youths to become law-abiding citizens and promote safety in our communities.
The Government of Canada is proud to work in partnership with Canada's policing community in tackling crime and protecting Canadians. Our balanced approach includes prevention, enforcement and rehabilitation. This year's recipients have demonstrated a commitment to finding effective ways to combat youth crime through the youth criminal justice system.
On behalf of all Canadians, I would like to congratulate the team members of the Vancouver Diversity and Aboriginal Policing Section's E.A.S.Y. program and Constable Perry Mason, and also thank each and every police officer for their hard work in keeping our communities safe.
The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Minister of Justice National Youth Justice Policing Award
The Minister of Justice National Youth Justice Policing Award was established in 2000 in collaboration with the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police. This award recognizes the work of police officers who, either individually or as a team, have developed approaches for dealing with youth in conflict with the law that go beyond the formal court system. It celebrates innovative policing and serves to inform the police and wider community about creative responses to youth crime.
Specifically, the award recognizes individuals or teams who draw upon the programs and approaches outlined in the Youth Criminal Justice Act, including:
- The use of measures that, as described in the Youth Criminal Justice Act, go beyond the usual course of legal proceedings or the authority of a court, such as warnings, cautions, and referrals to community agencies;
- Providing advice to decision makers in the youth justice process;
- Contributing to the rehabilitation and reintegration of youth who have been found guilty of crime.
All nominees must have demonstrated a commitment to helping young people understand the impact of their actions and encouraging the involvement of parents, families and communities in the justice system.
Winner
E.A.S.Y. PROGRAM - DIVERSITY AND ABORIGINAL POLICING SECTION
Vancover Police Department
The winners of the 2011 Minister of Justice National Youth Justice Policing Award are Inspector Mario Giardini, Sergeant Malcolm Cox, Constable Cheryl Leggett, Constable Ara Pehlivanian, Constable Rick Lavallee, Ms. Lori Beckstead and Ms. Beth McArthur of the Vancouver Police Department's Eastside Aboriginal Space for Youth (E.A.S.Y.) program.
Based on years of experience and work forging more positive and trusting relationships with Vancouver's urban Aboriginal community, in 2010, the Vancouver Police Department's Diversity and Aboriginal Policing Section started the E.A.S.Y. program to combat youth crime and gang recruitment. This innovative program involved countless hours of work and personal overtime from section members in order to help young people who have come into conflict with the law turn their lives away from criminal and gang involvement.
The Diversity and Aboriginal Policing Section works with the courts so that the program can be used as a probationary condition for youth and that program participation can be a mitigating factor in sentencing. The team works with front-line officers to ensure referrals to the program are considered as an alternative to arrest and referrals to other partnership programs working in speciality areas such as mental health and/or addictions needs are considered.
The program provides youth with resources and alternatives to gang involvement. Because of the work of this section through programs such as E.A.S.Y., involvement in crime among youth has dropped substantially, and negative behaviours that lead to criminal involvement or recidivism such as drug use have declined by 25% for youth involved in the program.
Certificate of Distinction
CONSTABLE PERRY MASON
Hamilton Police Service
The 2011 Certificate of Distinction has been awarded to Constable Perry Mason for his years of commitment and dedication to working with youth who come into contact with the law. In particular, his progressive work with restorative justice and healing circles exemplifies the principles of a balanced approach to justice as set out in the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Constable Mason has more than 32 years of policing experience with extensive involvement, both personal and professional, in dealing with bullying and youth justice issues. He was one of the first police officers in Hamilton to use restorative practices and has become an expert within the Hamilton Police Service on restorative justice and healing circles.
Restorative justice is a holistic approach that encourages the involvement of parents, family and the community. Constable Mason has had a great deal of success over the years in engaging parents and family of youth to participate. His work has helped young people to understand, at a deeper level, the impact their actions have on victims and the often far-reaching consequences of their anti-social behaviour.
As a strong supporter of the use of restorative justice practices, Constable Mason has demonstrated exemplary leadership in the training and implementation of staff and partner organizations. He was pivotal in starting a committee within the Hamilton Police Service to explore ways that restorative justice can be used within the Service. He currently sits on the Restorative Justice Steering Committee for the City of Hamilton in addition to the newly formed Hamilton Police Service Restorative Justice Committee.
