All members of society have a role to play in creating safe, healthy, and inclusive communities.
In Canada, vulnerable populations are disproportionately affected by the criminal justice system. Indigenous Peoples, homeless populations, people with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and other disabilities, and people suffering from mental illness are vastly overrepresented in the criminal justice system.
Factors leading to criminal justice involvement are diverse and complex, and only by working together can we create a society where we all feel safe, included, and have the resources needed to thrive in our own lives. No matter what led people to their involvement in the criminal justice system, we know that nearly all incarcerated people will return to the community at some point in time.
We also know that addressing the complex needs of individuals through effective reintegration programs and services is one of the primary factors in reducing recidivism. We are determined to foster and maintain public safety through programs and services that assist people impacted by or vulnerable to the criminal justice system to prevent crime and enhancing community inclusion.
Our Justice Services
Our pre-release supports assist people in provincial and federal correctional facilities to prepare for the transition back to the community upon release. We assist people to access the resources, services, and information they need to achieve their goals and needs, and seek to reduce experiences of isolation or community disconnect that may be experienced during reintegration by establishing positive community connections before release.
Our Community-Based Residential Facilities (CRFs) provide a safe, structured, and supportive housing environment for people on conditional release from federal and provincial institutions. Operating under contract with the Correctional Services of Canada, our CRFs assist residents to access the services, resources, and pro-social supports needed for them to successfully reintegrate into the community. Residents of our facilities are supervised by Community Parole Officers, and our facilities have awake staff on site 24 hours a day to provide structure, monitoring, and support.
Our community reintegration services assist people returning to the community upon being released from a correctional facility or forensic hospital. These services are person-centred, and seek to meet the individual needs and goals of the person being served. This may include support with housing, employment, mental health and addiction, life-skills, and social inclusion. Working in collaboration with institution staff and other service providers, we provide the resources, tools and supports necessary for people to succeed in the community.
We deliver many programs and services which provide alternatives to the formal traditional justice system. Our alternative justice supports address the harm caused by crime and hold people accountable for their actions while providing education and opportunities for healing. While some supports include restorative practices, and others may be more education-based all seek to inform members of our community about the impact of crime on victims, offenders, and the wider community to prevent and address the harms caused by criminal behaviour.