Winners >Constable Mark Hoouldsworth

Certificates of Distinction

Sergeant Mark Houldsworth
Ottawa-Carleton Regional Police Service

A twenty-year police veteran, Sgt Houldsworth specialized in youth services for eleven years as a Youth Investigator and School Resource Officer. As a newly promoted sergeant, he started work on an innovative program for under twelve-year olds in trouble. He knew this age group had special needs and he wanted the police service to pay closer attention to them.

Sgt Houldsworth developed an Early Identification/Early Intervention program to help officers identify a youth or family need for help. He also developed partnerships with the community youth service agencies that could provide help.

He successfully promoted and implemented the restorative justice concept in Ottawa-Carleton through a system of Case Conferencing and Youth Justice Forum Committees to facilitate community based solutions to problems of youth in trouble. Working with community volunteers, he brought a multi-disciplinary approach to youth justice and he ensured that volunteers received the training they needed to function effectively. He also obtained approval for a ministry-funded team to work with Police Service Youth officers to implement a pre-charge intervention program with a mentoring component.

Sgt Houldsworth is currently responsible for the management of a youth centre with a membership of 1000 young people. He has been involved with a Canadian Universities Research Association initiative to deal with high-risk youth and was part of a group that obtained a $650,000 grant from the National Crime Prevention Centre. This grant was to initiate Skills Streaming programs for 6 to 12 year olds in a low-income subsidized housing community.

His leadership and example have been an inspiration to many youth in the community and have also encouraged many of his fellow officers to get involved in the new style of youth.

Contact person: Sergeant Mark Houldsworth
613-236-1222, ext. 5859