Vancouver, August 25, 2004 – The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Irwin Cotler, today announced this year's winner and runners-up for the fifth annual Minister of Justice National Youth Justice Policing Awards. Police officers from across Canada will be recognized for their innovative work with youth in conflict with the law at a ceremony tonight in Vancouver .

“This is a significant award,” said Minister Cotler. “The police play a key role in promoting and maintaining the positive changes introduced with the renewal of the youth justice system. The Government of Canada is pleased to recognize new approaches that maintain a balance between protecting society and ensuring that youth who come into conflict with the law are treated appropriately.”

The award is given to officers whose work with young people aligns with the Government of Canada's goals for youth justice renewal. The Youth Criminal Justice Act , which came into force in April 2003, is the centerpiece of a new approach to dealing with youth crime.

The winner, Corporal Brian Foote of the RCMP's Mission Detachment in British Columbia , was the driving force behind the Mission Family Support Network. Since September 2003, the network has provided counseling and assistance to young people in Mission , B.C. who are at risk of entering into the justice system or who have already started down the criminal path.

The network is geared for youth ages eight to 18 and is designed to give police officers another avenue to deal with criminal behaviour rather than the traditional justice system. In non-violent cases, the police can refer young persons to the network, which then works to help them understand the context of their actions and explores issues in their lives that might be leading them towards criminal tendencies. The network's team of experts and counsellors is then able to determine what combination of help would most benefit the youth and their families.

The Award, as well as two certificates of distinction and three honourable mentions, will be presented at the Gala Awards Night of the annual meeting of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP). Along with the award, Corporal Foote will receive a $5000 cheque to benefit the Mission Family Support Network. The award is sponsored by the Department of Justice in collaboration with the CACP.

Certificates of distinction were awarded to Sergeant David Harty of the Calgary Police Service and Constable Dean Roy of the Durham Regional Police Service. Honourable mentions went to Constable Dave Dickson of the Vancouver Police Department, Constable Dameon Okposio of the Peel Regional Police, and to the nine-member Community Resources Unit of the Lethbridge Regional Police Service.

Among the factors considered for the award are innovation and creativity, use of community-based resources as alternatives to the formal court process, and effective use of police discretion, conferencing, alternatives to custody and rehabilitation and reintegration of youth in conflict with the law.

For more information on the award, the winners and nominees, go to: http://www.canada.justice.gc.ca/en/ps/yj/awards/awards.html

For more information on youth justice renewal in Canada , go to: http://www.canada.justice.gc.ca/en/ps/yj/

- 30 -

Ref:

Mark Feldbauer
Senior Communications Advisor
Youth Justice Policy
(613) 954-3431