|
CITY OF VANCOUVER OTHER REPORT |
Report Date: |
January 27, 2005 | |
Author: |
Cherie Williams c/o
| |
Phone No.: |
604.871.6399 | |
RTS No.: |
4878 | |
CC File No.: |
3118-1 | |
Meeting Date: |
February 17, 2005 |
TO: |
Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets |
FROM: |
Family Court/Youth Justice Committee |
SUBJECT: |
Family Court/Youth Justice Committee Membership 2005 |
RECOMMENDATION
THAT the Family Court/Youth Justice Committee recommend that Council review applications submitted from interested individuals to sit on the FC/YJ Committee, with a view to increasing membership to 22 for the 2005 term.
CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The City Manager recommends that this report and its recommendation be referred to the Nomination Subcommittee.
COUNCIL POLICY
There is no Council policy. The authority and duties of the Family Court/Youth Justice Committee are set out in Provincial Legislation. Section 5 of the Provincial Court Act establishes the Family Court Committee. The Youth Justice Committee is appointed pursuant to Section 18 Youth Criminal Justice Act.
There is no set number of members for the Committee. All appointments are made by City Council and are effective for one year. Backgrounds in health, education, social services, law or corrections are considered to be assets for potential Committee members.
PURPOSE
Currently, the number of appointed committee members for the Family Court Youth Justice Committee is 15 whereas in 2004 the number of committee members totaled 25, 23 appointed by the City and 2 appointed by recommendation from the Committee itself. The FCYJC is requesting that the City increase the current compliment to 22 (8 additional members).
DISCUSSION
In 2004, the FCYJC had 3 subcommittees: 1) Restorative Justice 2) Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation and 3) Youth, Addictions and the Criminal Justice System.
In 2004 the Restorative Justice subcommittee began partnering with the Vancouver School Board and the Vancouver City Police Department, supporting their pilot restorative practices pilot in the schools. This project is in its infantile stage. Also in conjunction with the VSB, this Committee organized a community educational forum in October 2004 to promote restorative justice practices in the community. Currently this subcommittee is working on putting together a proposal for a CURA grant for restorative justice work in Vancouver which would include partnering with universities and various community organizations.
In 2004 the Addictions subcommittee researched challenges facing addicted youth in the criminal justice system. This committee is in the process of drafting a response to the BC Ministry of Health’s strategic framework, “Every Door’s the Right Door” (2004), which puts forth a plan to deal with the problems of youth drug addiction.
In 2004 the Sexual Exploitation subcommittee submitted a response to the Provincial Government’s Safe Care Act, pointing out some of the problems and concerns with this type of legislation.
This year another subcommittee has been added, a subcommittee looking at the issues and challenges facing Aboriginal Youth in our city.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
There are no financial implications.
CONCLUSION
In order to fulfill our mandate and continue the work that has been started, the Committee needs more members. Without adequate resources (bodies) much of the work that has been started will be abandoned and lost. The Committee is requesting that the City appoint an additional 8 people from the original applicants.
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