At a time of economic restraint, organizations across Canada call for support of most cost-effective solutions: investment in crime prevention and rehabilitation of children and youth and abandonment of calls for more jails, automatic life sentences for child & youth offenders

TORONTO, October 7, 2008- A coalition of organizations that work with and support children and youth across Canada called for the abandonment of all considerations to invest in more jails,stiffen sentences and publicly identify child and youth offenders.

Instead, the members called for proven, cost-effective solutions, public endorsement of rehabilitation and education as the best means of reducing crime and violence among Canadian youth. The positive impact of a rehabilitative approach to young offenders is demonstrated by the fact that there has been a significant decrease in youth crime since the implementation of the rehabilitation oriented Youth Criminal Justice Act in 2003.

Currently, the Courts already have the option to sentence teens as young as 14, convicted of the most serious offences, as adults, to life in prison. If certain offences lead to an automatic life sentence, the Courts and judges will not be able to tailor the sentence to the unique circumstances of each individual child or youth before them. In addition, if the identity of children and youth is not shielded, they will be branded for life thus also precluding chances of rehabilitation thus effectively increasing the costs to society.

Any plans to raise minimum sentences for youth to life imprisonment (with no parole for at least 14 years for murder and other offences) is extraordinarily punitive, counter-productive, and imposes a significant and unnecessary expense upon taxpayers. Currently, the law already provides for life imprisonment with no eligibility for parole for 10 years for first-degree murder and 7 years for second-degree murder.

Coalition members said that studies show that enhancing punitive measures increases criminality and drives up the costs to the Canadian justice system. More punitive approaches will also divert precious resources away from programs and Initiatives that have proven success.

Although the number of youth in custody across Canada has dropped since the YCJA, Aboriginal youth make up a higher proportion of the in-custody population now than they did under the Young Offenders Act. While it does not appear that the YCJA is working for Aboriginal youth, based on current trends, any 'toughening up" of the Act will mean even more Aboriginal youth will go to jail.

The Coalition for Children and Youth therefore calls for the rejection of hardened treatment of children and youth in favour of cost-effective investment in youth development, crime prevention and progressive rehabilitation.

About The Youth Coalition

The Coalition for Youth is a network of youth-serving and social justice related organizations including: Canadian Association of Psychoanalytic Child Therapists, Church Council on Justice and Corrections, Criminal Lawyers Association, Frontline Partners with Youth Network, Grass Roots Youth Collaborative, Justice for Children and Youth, Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies, Peacebuilders International (Canada), Pro Bono Law Ontario, St. Leonard's Society of Canada, Toronto Youth Cabinet and the Youth Justice Network of Toronto.

COALITION:

Canadian Association of Psychoanalytic Child Therapists: Janet Morrison
Church Council on Justice and Corrections: Lorraine Berzins
Criminal Lawyers Association: Frank Addario, Mara Greene
Frontline Partners with Youth Network: Jenny Katz
Grass Roots Youth Collaborative: Craig Fortier, Andrea Zammit
Justice for Children and Youth: Martha MacKinnon, Mary Birdsell
Canadian Associations of Elizabeth Fry Societies: Kim Pate
Peacebuilders International (Canada): Eva Marszewski
Pro Bono Law Ontario: Wendy Miller
St. Leonard's Society of Canada: Elizabeth White
Toronto Youth Cabinet: Paul Martin
Youth Justice Network of Toronto: Orville Wallace,

MEDIA CONTACTS: Mara Green, Criminal Lawyers Association: 416-977-6268 x 1
Craig Fortier, GYC: 416-644-1015
Jenny Katz, FPYN: 416-925-9250
Kim Pate, CAEF: 1-613-238-2422
Orville Wallace: YJNT: 647-241-5524

PRESS CONFERENCE: 10:30 am Tuesday, OCTOBER 7, 2008

LOCATION: Criminal Lawyers Association
20 Dundas St. West, Suite 1100
Toronto, ON