Calgary Police Officer Presented With Minister of Justice Award for His Work With Indigenous Youth

CHARLOTTETOWN, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND--(Marketwired - Sept. 10, 2016) - Department of Justice Canada

Every day, police officers across the country interact with youth who have been in conflict with the law. Canada's youth justice legislation, the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA), gives police officers the tools they need to look beyond the formal court system in dealing with young offenders.

Today, Sean Casey, Member of Parliament for Charlottetown, on behalf of the Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and in collaboration with the Canadian Police Association and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, is presenting the Minister of Justice National Youth Justice Policing Award to Constable Jeremiah Stump of the Calgary Police Service.

The award celebrates innovative policing and serves to inform the police and the wider community about creative responses to youth crime. It encourages police officers to take innovative approaches to respond to and prevent youth crime, and use restorative justice processes and other initiatives to reduce the rate of incarceration.

Constable Jeremiah Stump is being recognized for his key role in the Indigenous Team of the Calgary Police Service's Youth at Risk Development (YARD) program. The YARD Indigenous Team, composed of a police officer and a social worker, incorporates cultural teachings into its work and creates opportunities for youth to connect with their cultural roots.

The winner will be presented during a ceremony at the end of the Canadian Police Associations' biennial conference.

Quotes

"Our government recognizes our partners in the policing community for the creative ways in which they work with youth to help them make better choices and avoid coming into conflict with the law. Constable Stump and his team have taken a collaborative and comprehensive approach to working with Indigenous youth and have made a significant difference in their lives."

The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

"I am very pleased to be able to personally recognize Constable Stump for his dedication in helping Indigenous youth in his community. I thank him for his tireless efforts working with youth who are at high risk of gang and other criminal involvement, and his dedication to helping improve their lives and make their communities safer."

Sean Casey

Member of Parliament, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and

Attorney General of Canada

"The Canadian Police Association appreciates our partnership with the Department of Justice, which allows us to recognize some of the amazing work done by civilian and sworn law enforcement members across Canada. The work done by Constable Jeremiah Stump, the YARD team, and the Calgary Police is just another strong example of the value of professional public policing in this country."

Tom Stamatakis

President of the Canadian Police Association

"The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police congratulates Constable Jeremiah Stump, the YARD Team and the Calgary Police Service for their Youth at Risk Development Program. The program facilitates a collaborative and comprehensive approach to the early identification and appropriate service referral of young people who are at risk of initiation into street gangs and those who have already exhibited some level of gang involvement. The program is based on a wrap-around service model that is directed at boys and girls and is voluntary for all potential participants. This truly innovative indigenous youth program is deserving of the Minister of Justice National Justice Policing Award."

Directeur Mario Harel

President of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police

Related Products

• Minister of Justice National Youth Justice Policing Award Backgrounder
• Award Recipient 2016
• Minister of Justice National Youth Justice Policing Award - Video

Associated Links

• Canadian Police Association
• Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police
• Calgary Police Service Youth at Risk Development Program

Follow Department of Justice Canada on Twitter (@JusticeCanadaEn), join us on Facebook or visit our YouTube channel.

Backgrounder

Minister Of Justice National Youth Justice Policing Award 2016

The Minister of Justice National Youth Justice Policing Award is presented in collaboration with the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) and the Canadian Police Association (CPA). The award recognizes police officers who, individually or as a team, develop innovative approaches or promising practices that go beyond the formal court system when dealing with youth in conflict with the law. It celebrates innovative policing and serves to inform the police and wider community about creative responses to youth crime.

The award ceremony is held yearly in August/September and is presented alternately at the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Annual Conference and the Canadian Police Association Biennial Convention. This year's award will be presented at the Canadian Police Association's Biennial Conference, held September 8-10, 2016, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

A number of factors are considered in determining award eligibility, including:

• The innovation and creativity displayed by police officers dealing with youth who have come in conflict with the law.
• Promising practices or programs that respond to and prevent youth crime.
• The use of extrajudicial measures (for instance, warnings, cautions, or referrals); conferencing as a means of providing advice to decision makers through the youth justice process; or contributing to the rehabilitation and reintegration of youth who have been found guilty.
• Applying proportionate responses to the seriousness of the youth's offences by helping young people understand the impact of their actions and the connection between the offence and its consequences; encouraging the involvement of parents, families and the community in the rehabilitation and reintegration of youth; or increasing community involvement in the youth justice system.

Police services, front-line officers, community groups, justice officials, and citizens are eligible to nominate police officers for this award.

The winner is selected by an Awards Committee consisting of representatives from the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, the Canadian Police Association, and officials from the Department of Justice Canada.

The winner's name is inscribed on a trophy which remains with the winning police service for a year. He or she also receives a smaller version of the trophy to keep. A Certificate of Recognition is also given to the winner. In addition, $10,000.00 in funding, from the Department of Justice Canada's Youth Justice Fund, is presented in the name of the winner to the successful police service or community organization to support the program that was nominated.