Minister of Justice - National Youth Justice Policing Award 2003

NONE OF THE YOUTH SEEN HERE ARE VICTIMS NOR ARE THEY IN CONFLICT WITH THE LAW.

NARRATOR:

In April of 2003, the Government of Canada replaced the Young Offenders Act with the Youth Criminal Justice Act. This new legislation is the cornerstone of a national strategy called the Youth Justice Renewal Initiative - designed to promote a fairer, more effective youth justice system. An important goal of this Initiative is to encourage appropriate, community-based responses for young people in trouble with the law.

The new Youth Criminal Justice Act gives police officers more options when dealing with young people in trouble, so the success of this new law, and the broader Initiative, will depend largely on their efforts.

To recognize the innovative work that police services across Canada are doing to embrace this Youth Justice Renewal Initiative, the Minister of Justice introduced a prestigious, national award in 2000 - the National Youth Justice Policing Award.

The Department of Justice Canada, in collaboration with the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, is very proud to present this year's winners of the fourth annual, National Youth Justice Policing Award.

Faced with a very competitive field of nominees, this year's selection committee has awarded FOUR Honorable Mentions. The first goes to Constable Richard McDonald of the Halifax Regional Police who, for the past 28 years, has lobbied for alternative youth justice programs. He is being honored this year for his work in creating a support network specifically for young people living in group homes.

CST. RICHARD McDONALD:

"We have a fair number of group homes in the community, and these kids are in severe crisis as it is. Of course they don't, by choice, want to live in a group home, and because of that they're getting into a little bit of trouble. And what's happening is a lot of these kids are ending up in the criminal justice system over these incidents. They aren't criminal in nature, but one wonders 'Is there a better way we can deal with them?'"

NARRATOR:

The second Honorable Mention goes to Superintendent Dan Okuloski, with the Halton Regional Police Service whose early intervention and crime prevention strategy targets children under the age of 12.

SUPERINTENDENT DAN OKULOSKI:

"And we've had schools call back after 3 weeks saying 'What - this kid's been a problem for 4 years. How on earth can you change something in 3 weeks?' But the program really works."

NARRATOR:

Staff Sergeant Jake Bouwman, with the Chilliwack Detachment receives an Honorable Mention for creating the Sparwood Youth Assistance Program. Often emotional, this initiative brings the offender, the victim, the families, and the community together in a resolution conference.

STAFF SERGEANT JAKE BOUWMAN:

"It's not to replace the court system at all. We'll always have a need for the court system. But for those offenses that are appropriate, in society's eyes to do this, it works wonderful. "

NARRATOR:

And this year's fourth Honorable Mention goes to Constables Grant Hamilton and Tom Woods, with the Victoria Police Department - responsible for taking at-risk youth and channeling their energies to create a spectacular outdoor art gallery.

CST. GRANT HAMILTON/TOM WOODS:

"We've seen a number of calls, police-related calls, up there decrease significantly. At the same time, now the community is sort of really bought into this area, and ownership, and we have community clean-up days up there now where a whole bunch of people come out and weed the gardens that we've created, and just sort of enjoy the gallery."

NARRATOR:

Three Certificates of Distinction have been awarded. The first goes to Corporal Greg Fleet with the Regina Police Service. Seeing a need to curb the alarming rise of first-time auto theft by the city's youth, he created the HEAT program - Help Eliminate Auto Theft - which engages the offender in just 48 hours.

CORPORAL GREG FLEET:

"As a police officer we often see people in a negative setting, and it's always nice when you can walk away, that somebody feels good about the work you've done and you've had an impact on their life."

NARRATOR:

Our next Certificate of Distinction goes to Constable Terry Simm of the Sarnia Police Service's youth branch. Constable Simm was the driving force behind his police service's involvement with Rebound, an intensive 10-week program that gives young people the skills they need to make the right choices in life.

CONSTABLE TERRY SIMM:

"When you promise someone, or give them your word, that (to me) is the most you can do for them. And then when they call you, it doesn't matter what you're doing, if you've told them to call, you go do what you gotta do. And if you do that, they really respect it and they will try harder."

NARRATOR:

This year's final Certificate of Distinction is awarded to Constable Ken Anderson, with the Winnipeg Police Service. Instrumental in developing the Aboriginal Cultural Program for Boys, Constable Anderson combines sports-related activities with First Nations teachings to bring hope to disadvantaged boys from Winnipeg's inner city.

CONSTABLE KEN ANDERSON:

"When you grab onto something that you know is right, and it's, again, it points back to the youth, it's showing them a different way before we can't bring them back, before they end up in the jails. It's a program that I know works, and it's something that I'm proud of.

NARRATOR:

It is now our pleasure to introduce a police officer whose work exceeds all selection criteria for this award. His approach to policing youth is innovative, and exemplifies the goals and objectives of the Government's initiative to renew youth justice in Canada.

The Department of Justice, along with the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police is pleased to present this year's WINNER of the Minister of Justice National Youth Justice Policing Award to CONSTABLE RICK COLE, from the Edmonton Police Service. He designed a program for troubled youth that is so much a part of himself that it now carries his name - COLE'S KIDS.

CONSTABLE RICK COLE (Edmonton Police Service):

When I came out onto the street, I was frustrated right away by all the repeaters - dealing with the same kids over and over again and the same offenders over and over again - and I made a decision that I was going to do something a little bit differently.

PRINCIPAL DOUG NELSON (St. Thomas More School):

He is committed to these kids. He wants to know what their marks are. He wants to know what sports they're playing in school. He wants to know what friends they're hanging around with, and they readily tell him. So he's got their respect, he's got their friendship.

CONSTABLE RICK COLE:

They've been arrested or caught doing some kind of offense. I make an appointment for the parent to come pick the kid up, take the kid home, and then to meet me at the police station the next day. Between the time of the first arrest and the time they come to the police station, I've talked to the school - to find out what kind of a student they are, if they're attending, and what they're capable. So when we sit down, I have an idea of what the school needs, I sit down with the parent to find out about the kid and do an interview with the kid to find out about them and how many times they've committed offences. And they come clean of the whole thing. And we sit down and write a contract. The contract details the code of conduct for them so that they're not getting into more trouble.

PRINCIPAL CAROL SYMONS (S. Bruce Smith School):

Certainly with the Cole's Kid program, it's not about one adult. It's about bringing many adults to the table to the aid of a child - whether that's the school, the parents, the police, and potentially other school members or community members as well.

DETECTIVE RUDY DESMEULES:

Just by watching him deal with people - the effect and the impact - you can't miss it. You feel like you're actually making a difference. And with this job, day in and day out, you know you never win the war, you just win the battles. And that's a really important battle to be winning.

PRINCIPAL DOUG NELSON:

If the work wasn't being done, these kids would go down a path that would be a burden, eventually a burden to society - sometimes really fast, but eventually. There'd be huge financial repercussions and societal repercussions. The other side of the coin is that by showing them that he cares and that they can be successful, they are successful. The expectation is not for them to fail. The expectation is for them to be successful, and to be happy, and to be contributing members of society - so they are!

CONSTABLE RICK COLE:

The next thing is I'm able to, during my day shifts, stop at the schools and I just go in and talk to the different principals, "How are my kids doing?" because the principals all have copies of the contracts. And they'll say "Oh, this little guy's been a problem" or "This little guy's getting an award" or "This little guy did well on a test". So I can both bring them back in line or help with the discipline, but at the same time I can help with the rewards. So the kid gets a double benefit.

PRINCIPAL CAROL SYMONS:

I think the program makes a difference to any child, because it shows them that there's another adult in their life that cares about them. And I think that any point we can put an adult in the life of a child and they say "I'm here. I care. I want to help you." I think that makes a difference.

DETECTIVE RUDY DESMEULES:

The genuineness in his approach, and all his dealings, you know he doesn't just turn it on and off. This is just who he is.

CONSTABLE RICK COLE:

The most gratifying thing is that I can walk down the hallway of a number of Junior Highs, and kids will look at you "Oh. There's Constable Cole. There's Constable Cole. It's nice to see you." And you know that you've made a difference with that kid. Yeah. It's awesome!

NARRATOR:

The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and the Department of Justice Canada congratulate ALL the winners in this, the Minister of Justice National Youth Justice Policing Awards for 2003. And to police officers working on the front lines every hour of every day, across this country - we tip our hats to you, and thank you for the tireless work you do, particularly with respect to our youth.