Home for Youth

Brief Description

Open Custody is one type of custodial sentence that can be ordered by a Judge under the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA). A facility is considered "open" when there is minimal use of security devices or perimeter security. Home for Youth is one of two open custody facilities located in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador that serves youth sentenced to open custody.

Goals

The main goals of the Home for Youth program are to:

• Successfully reintegrate youth back into society; and
• Lower recidivism rates.

Clientele

Clientele include all youth between the ages 12-18 and up to 21 (if sentence is before the age of 18) that are sentenced to open custody by the Provincial Youth Court.

Core Components

The Home for Youth program provides a structured environment, designed to help youth serve their sentence while also providing programs that focus on positive behaviours and pro-social activities. More specifically, Home for Youth provides programming designed to help with anger management, behavioural issues, mental health, addiction and life skills, among others things. Specific programming is offered based on a youth’s needs. To facilitate some programming, youth are connected to social workers and other professionals in the community.

A participant’s time in the program is based on the offence committed and range of sentencing options, and is ultimately determined by the Judge presiding over the case. The range of time in the program typically ranges from 3 months to 2 years.

Implementation Information

Some of the critical elements for the implementation of this program or initiative include the following:

• Organizational requirements: Limited information on this topic.
• Partnerships: Home for youth involves a partnership with the youth criminal justice system.
• Training and technical assistance: Limited information on this topic.
• Risk assessment tools: Limited information on this topic.
• Materials & resources: Limited information on this topic.

International Endorsements

The most recognized classification systems of evidence-based crime prevention programs have classified this program or initiative as follows:

• Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development: Not applicable.
• Crime Solutions/OJJDP Model Program Guide: Not applicable.
• SAMHSA's National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices: Not applicable.
• Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy: Not applicable.

Gathering Canadian Knowledge

Canadian Implementation Sites

Home for Youth is run through John Howard Society. Currently, there are two locations for open custody in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John’s and Corner Brook.

Main Findings from Canadian Outcome Evaluation Studies

No information available.

Cost Information

No information available.

References

There is no Canadian reference available at this time.

For more information on this program, contact:

Lucretia Brown, MSW, RSW

Coordinator, Home for Youth

Telephone: (709) 364-1306

Email: lbrown@jhsnl.ca