For Youth Initiative (FYI) - "Youth Speak" Conference

Like we previously posted, TBYC was in attendance at the FYI "Youth Speak" Conference on youth in the criminal justice system. Congrats are in order for the FYI team as they garnered a strong turn out. Everyone from front-line staff to executive directors and funders were in the building.

The concept was clear: Make sure service providers were hearing the concerns of youth in the justice system. They had three panels; The first of which was made up of youth who had recently exited the criminal justice system. The second included youth currently navigating the criminal justice system. And the third included youth who had somehow managed to avoid any contact with the system.

First Panel: Youth who have just left the legal system.

Candid and refreshing. This group of young people chose not to hold back when it came to talking about their experiences in custody and in the courts. They spoke about issues with Legal Aid lawyers as well as barriers within the education system. They highlighted organisations in the community that they felt really helped them turn their lives around but also spoke about the need for more community supports.

One thing that really stuck out was when the young woman on the panel said she learned discipline and discovered most of her talents while in jail but that she felt those were things she could have learned in school.

Another big point that came out of this discussion was the need for our youth to be able to walk to the corner store or ride the bus without fear of being harassed by the police.

Here's a list of other issues that were mentioned:

• we need more breakfast programs in schools
• we need to stop telling our youth that they aren't going to make it
• we need to show these youth that jail is not sexy
• importance of mentorship within the community
• criminal record checks can be a barrier to moving forward with your life (i.e. finding employment)
• we need to fund the programs that work
• service providers need to look at who they're hiring; they need to hire the ones that will engage the youth

Second Panel: Youth who are currently navigating the justice system.

(This portion was broadcast live to the Roy McMurtry Youth Centre and questions from youth in custody were asked throughout the session.)

Issues Raised:

• Individualised Education Plans work to segregate youth from the mainstream, in the education system
• Youth feel that had they spent more time in school they would not have gotten in to trouble
• The Police need to look at who they are hiring to be officers and in other positions of power
• Teachers need to also act as mentors
• There need to be more life coaches and less counsellors in the system (youth are asking for more life skills training, pre-employment and interpersonal skills workshops)
• Youth need more transitional workers that will follow youth who want to make a change once they get out of jail
• We need to talk to employers about hiring young offenders
• Youth are afraid to leave jail because they don't want to go back to offending
• Youth workers shouldn't think of this type of work as a "9am to 5pm" type of job, it's 24 hours a day commitment
• We need to commend the individuals in our community who are making change
• We need to focus on changing the thought process of youth in the criminal justice system
• Service Providers: Use your resources! Hire youth to reach youth.
• There is a disconnect between young people and the education system; make educational spaces a community hub
• Make room for self-expression in school
• Police always use youth statements against them

Someone from the audience brought up the point the jails are big business and frequent remand dates and long term pre-trial detention keep people working. Residents at the Roy McMurtry Youth Centre asked why its takes so long for the crown to get police disclosures and the answer given (by a woman in the audience) was the police stall on handing them in because they think the court system is too soft on youth. She went further to say that police intentionally stall to keep youth in detention longer; this is their way of imposing punishment. Pressure needs to be put on police to file disclosures in a timely manner. It was also clarified that defense lawyers don't get paid for remands, so it is an inconvenience for them as well. They cannot ethically inform their clients on what to do next if they themselves have not seen the police disclosure.

Third Panel - Young people that have successfully avoided the criminal justice system.

This panel discussed the question: What does prevention look like? The youth on the panel answered by highlighting the importance of programs like "Model UN". The overall stance was that by supporting our youth and keeping them engaged in positive initiatives, we can help keep them out of police custody and ultimately the jail system.

Once again, MAJOR PROPS to FYI and their team. Keep doing it big.

PEACE