POLICE OFFICERS RECOGNIZED FOR INNOVATIVE WORK WITH YOUTH

Halifax, August 26, 2003 - The Honourable Martin Cauchon, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the winner of this year's Minister of Justice National Youth Justice Policing Award. In Halifax, police officers from across Canada were recognized for their innovative work in rehabilitating troubled youth.

"I congratulate these officers for their outstanding work in helping our youth put their lives on the right track," said Minister Cauchon. "The entire country benefits from the important work they are doing with our young people in capturing the spirit of the Youth Criminal Justice Act."

The Minister of Justice presented the award, along with three Certificates of Distinction and five Honourable Mention certificates, at the Gala Awards Night of the annual Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) conference. The Department of Justice sponsors the award in collaboration with the CACP.

The winner, Constable Rick Cole of the Edmonton Police Service, created an innovative program known throughout Edmonton as COLE'S Kids. Through the program, Constable Cole helps young people involved in issues like bullying, assault, theft, and mischief improve their behaviour.

The program requires young people to sign a "contract for success," which is created as quickly as possible after an arrest or intervention and often calls for the youth to attain better marks at school and keep their parents informed of their whereabouts.

Along with the award, Constable Cole received a $5,000 cheque on behalf of the COLE'S Kids Association.

Certificates of Distinction were awarded to three officers working individually:

• Corporal Greg Fleet, Regina Police Service;
• Retired Constable Terry Simm, formerly of the Sarnia Police Service; and
• Constable Ken Anderson, Winnipeg Police Service.

Honourable Mention certificates were awarded to three officers working individually and a team of two officers:

• Constable Richard McDonald, Halifax Regional Police;
• Superintendent Dan Okuloski, Halton Regional Police Service;
• Staff Sergeant Jake Bouwman, RCMP, Chilliwack Detachment; and
• Constables Grant Hamilton and Tom Woods, Victoria Police Department.

The award is given to officers who undertake their work in a manner that reflects the goals of the Government of Canada's Youth Justice Renewal Initiative. At the centre of this initiative is new legislation, the Youth Criminal Justice Act, which came into force in April 2003.

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

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

For more information on the Youth Justice Renewal Initiative, go to: http://www.canada.justice.gc.ca/en/ps/yj/

- 30 -

Ref:

Mike Murphy
Special Assistant - Communications
Office of the Minister of Justice
(613) 992-4621

Mark Feldbauer
Senior Communications Advisor
(613) 954-3431