Mission:

To provide a range of community based services that respond to the criminogenic needs of youth, thereby promoting lawful behavior and contributing to public safety.

Purpose:

1. To protect society by providing appropriate support and supervision.
2. To facilitate rehabilitation by providing youth the best possible opportunities for healthy growth and pro-social development through a youth focused integrated case management process.

Youth Justice Services include:

• Extrajudicial sanctions (formal diversion from court proceedings);
• Supervision and case management of youth on bail, peace bonds, probation, intensive support and supervision program orders, supervision in the community, conditional supervision, and reintegration leave from a youth custody centre;
• Preparation of reports for court and Crown Counsel; and,
• Community-based non-residential and residential programs.

Approximately 130 youth probation officers work in multi-disciplinary teams in various communities across BC to provide Youth Justice Services. Youth probation officers are officers of the court who supervise youth subject to court orders and agreements.

Additional services provided include:

• Day programs
• Intensive support and supervision programs
• Specialized residential programs
• Community service work
• Drug and alcohol programs
• Full and part-time wilderness challenge programs
• Youth Forensic Psychiatric Services

Referrals to these programs are made by the youth probation officers.

Restorative Conferencing

Restorative conferencing is a voluntary process that brings together a young offender and the person harmed by the offence, their respective families and supporters, other key people affected by the harm and relevant community members. The goal of restorative conferencing is to find a mutually satisfying resolution to the harm caused by the offence.

Restorative conferencing is recognized by the Youth Criminal Justice Act as one way to provide meaningful consequences and hold young people accountable by helping them understand the impact of their actions and repair the harm done to the victim and community.

Referrals for restorative conferencing are based on a Judge’s order and can be requested by a probation officer, Crown Counsel or defence counsel. Referrals are based on the voluntary participation of the victims, the young person, and the consent of both defence and Crown Counsel.