The John Howard Society of Saskatchewan (JHSS), Moose Jaw has received over $20,000 for a Crime Prevention Program (CPP) that will provide for a partnership between the John Howard Society of Saskatchewan, South District RCMP detachments and the Moose Jaw Police Service to deliver this program to Grade 4-8 students.
The program received funding totalling $24,480. The Crime Prevention Program will address the risk factors leading to youth crime and victimization.
The funding was provided by the Ministry of Corrections and Policing, which is providing nearly $330,000 to Saskatchewan municipal police and community-based organizations (CBOs) for new policing tools and programming through the Criminal Property Forfeiture Program.
The CPP project will be operational for a 12-month period which started in January and is set to end in December 2019. The program includes a half–time coordinator dedicated to delivering program modules to students.
Programming will teach students to be socially responsible, to value other members of the community and their property, to be accountable for their actions and to develop strategies for conflict resolution.
Amanda Richter Goddard, Director of Judicial Programs at the John Howard Society of Saskatchewan (JHSS), said this funding will allow the JHSS to expand its services in the community.
“The John Howard Society of Saskatchewan would like to thank the Ministry of Corrections and Policing for providing us with the funding from the allocations of the Criminal Property Forfeiture Funds. This funding is dedicated to expanding our knowledge and services for our Crime Prevention Programming into our rural Moose Jaw areas. This would not be possible without the continued support and dedication of our partners, Moose Jaw RCMP and the Moose Jaw City Police.”
She added that, “the Crime Prevention Program is offered to elementary schools for children attending Grade 4 to Grade 8. The program is aimed at reducing the likelihood of children becoming involved in criminal activity. The series of presentations focus on information and include educational activities about the justice system, the concept of criminal responsibility, conflict resolution, peer pressure and values.”
In accordance with legislation, approximately $280,000, an amount that matches what was provided to municipal police services, will also be deposited from the Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund into the Victims’ Fund.
“Government is proud to be able to provide this funding to Saskatchewan’s municipal police forces so they can use it to buy the tools they need to keep our communities safe,” Corrections and Policing Minister Christine Tell said in a statement. “The distribution to the Victims’ Fund will also continue to provide for important victims services in this province such as counselling, medical bills and the replacement of valuables."
Background on Saskatchewan’s Civil Forfeiture Program
Saskatchewan’s Civil Forfeiture Program, through The Seizure of Criminal Property Act, 2009, seeks the forfeiture of property that is considered to be proceeds or an instrument of unlawful activity. Any cash resulting from the forfeitures is deposited in the Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund.
Under the Seizure of Criminal Property Act, 2009, when funding is disbursed to a police service, equivalent funding is deposited from the Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund into the Victims’ Fund. This year of the approximately $330,000, nearly $50,000 will be distributed to CBOs and $280,000 will go to police services. This will result in a matching $280,000 to be deposited from the Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund into the Victims’ Fund.
In the spring of 2017, an addition was made to the regulations to allow money from the fund to go to community programs or activities designed to promote public safety. This is in addition to the support the fund already provides to police operations and the Victims Fund.
