Youth Diversion | Kingston Not-for-Profit supporting At-Risk Youth in Our Community - Youth Diversion helps youth overcome challenges by: Providing prevention, intervention and educational services that divert youth from risk and support their ability to thrive.

Enter your keyword

Extrajudicial Measures and Extrajudicial Sanctions

Extrajudicial Measures (EJM) and Extrajudicial Sanctions (EJS) Programs

Extrajudicial Measures (EJM) or Sanctions (EJS) allow a youth to take responsibility for their offence while also providing education and support for the youth and their family to prevent further conflict with the law.

Extrajudicial Measures

  • Referred by the police PRIOR to a charge being laid
  • A youth’s voluntary participation and engagement in an EJM program means they can avoid criminal charges and a criminal record
  • An agreement is discussed and agreed upon with the youth to complete
  • After successful completion, police are notified and recommendations are given that no further action is taken

Extrajudicial Sanctions

  • Referred by the Crown Attorney AFTER a charge has been laid
  • A youth’s voluntary participation and engagement in an EJM program means they may be able to avoid criminal charges and a criminal record
  • An agreement is discussed and agreed upon with the youth to complete
  • After successful completion, the case is returned to court and a written report by the Coordinator or worker is submitted to confirm completion of the program, and the youth will appear in front of a judge so the court may withdraw their charges

What to expect:

Once referred for EJM or EJS, the Youth Justice Coordinator will arrange an intake meeting with the youth (and their parents/ guardians if they want). During this intake the Coordinator gets to know the youth more, to understand what the incident was about from the youth’s point of view, and to understand more of the circumstances or situation the youth is currently in that may be contributing to the offending behaviour.

From this information the Coordinator works with the youth to develop measures or sanctions that reflect the nature of the offence and the needs of the young person. The Coordinator or Worker also reaches out to the victims, the youth’s and victim’s family, and the community to become involved in the design and implementation of those measures or sanctions. These voices are brought together at through the Youth Justice Committee conference if applicable.

Ultimately, the aim of the plan is for the youth to make amends and restore harm done to the community, and to address risk factors in the youth’s lives that may be getting them in conflict with the law in the first place. This plan must be completed within an agreed upon time frame.

Once completed, the coordinator informs the police and Crown and the case is closed. If the plan is not completed, the case is returned and the youth will go through the formal court system or be formally charged by the referring police officer.

TEAM CONTACTS

Gillian Geneja, Youth Justice Coordinator
ggeneja@youthdiversion.org
613 548 4535 x. 230

Mel Urquhart Youth Justice Case Worker
murquhart@youthdiversion.org
613 548 4535 x. 235