Criminal Justice
Abbotsford Restorative Justice and Advocacy Association (ARJAA) (Local: Abbotsford, BC)
Established in 2000 by a group of concerned citizens and community leaders, the Abbotsford Restorative Justice and Advocacy Association (ARJAA) offers an alternative to the criminal justice system. Based on the principles of restorative justice, the organization holds offenders accountable to their victims and the community and assists them to make appropriate amends and repair the harm done.
Access Pro Bono Society of BC (APB) (Regional: Vancouver, BC)
The Access Pro Bono Society of BC (APB) is a charitable organization whose mission is to promote access to justice in British Columbia by providing and fostering quality pro bono (free) legal services for people and nonprofit organizations of limited means.
Alberta Community Crime Prevention Association (ACCPA) (Regional: Calgary, AB)
The ACCPA represents individuals and organizations interested in preventing and reducing crime in Alberta communities. Our mandate is to provide public education and awareness of crime and community-based crime prevention strategies.
The Alberta Seventh Step Society (Regional: Calgary, AB)
This organization supports offenders and ex-offenders to achieve and maintain their freedom, realize their potential and grow within the community. They help offenders and ex-offenders help themselves to become responsible and accountable members of society.
Break Free Family Centre (Regional: Etobicoke, ON)
This organization’s mandate is to provide care and counselling to youth, young offenders and the community at large, regardless of religious preferences, ethnic background, gender and race. Their goal is to teach and counsel individuals on how they can break the cycle of violence, addiction and self-destructive behaviours and become productive members of society.
Breakaway (Local: Toronto, ON)
This organization works to provide seamless, comprehensive, and effective harm reduction services, and a full range of addiction treatment services that are amenable to individuals’ needs and goals. Their services are offered through community-based facilities with a focus on street and community outreach.
The Bridge (Local: Hamilton, ON)
The Bridge, a charitable organization, helps newly released ex-offenders after the correctional facility. We provide help with – temporary shelter; permanent housing; a job; support for them & loved ones; mental & social challenges; physical & psychological abuse issues; stigma.
BC Borstal Association (Regional: Vancouver, BC)
The British Columbia Borstal Association was established in 1948 to assist young men to move away from criminal lifestyles and toward constructive community involvement. Today the organization continues to offer a wide range of programs aimed at assisting male offenders to successfully re-enter the community.
BC Trauma Care (Regional: Vancouver, BC)
The British Columbia Borstal Association has concerted efforts to address trauma through the creation of the BC Trauma Care Program. The program offers accessible and low-cost counselling services to those who have experienced any level of trauma. In addition to the one to one counselling and group support, they also offer resources, education and awareness not only to our clients but to service providers, educators and the community.
Calgary Legal Guidance
A Calgary-based free legal service. If you need legal advice on: separation, divorce, common law, maintenance, custody and access, small claims, impaired driving, debt, common assault, social assistance, fraud, landlord/tenant, solicitation, WCB, UIC, theft under or other legal matters but can’t afford a lawyer and you don’t qualify for legal aid, this organization may be able to help.
Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies
CAEFS is a federation of autonomous societies which works with, and on behalf of, women involved with the justice system, particularly women in conflict with the law. Elizabeth Fry Societies are community based agencies dedicated to offering services and programs to marginalized women, advocating for legislative and administrative reform and offering fora within which the public may be informed about, and participate in, aspects of the justice system which affect women.
Council of Elizabeth Fry Societies of Ontario
Elizabeth Fry Society of Ottawa
Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver
The Canadian Centre for International Justice (International: Ottawa, ON)
The Canadian Centre for International Justice is a charitable organization that works with survivors of genocide, torture, and other atrocities to seek redress and bring perpetrators to justice.
Le Centre canadien pour la justice internationale est un organisme à but non lucratif qui œuvre avec les survivants de génocide, de torture et d’autres atrocités afin d’obtenir réparation et de traduire leurs auteurs en justice.
Canadian Crime Victim Foundation (National: Newmarket, ON)
The foundation works to support, empower, and provide resources to victims of crime and to effect positive change to victim services in Canada.
Canadian Friends Service Committee (Quakers) (National: Toronto, ON)
CFSC is the peace, social justice and international development arm of Quakers (the Religious Society of Friends) in Canada. CFSC envisions a world in which dignity, justice, peace, human rights, and harmonious relationships with creation are fostered and upheld. CFSC alleviates suffering and develops transformative and sustainable approaches to human rights, justice, and peace. We act through practical assistance, research, education, and policy dialogues.
Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime (CRCVC) (National: Ottawa, ON)
CRCVC is a nonprofit advocacy group for victims of crime. We serve individuals and families impacted by violent crime in all communities across Canada. We provide victim advocacy services that meet the diverse needs of people of all ages, races, religions, ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical ability and socio-economic status.
Canadian Safe School Network
A grassroots, charitable organization dedicated to reducing youth violence and crime.
Chilliwack Restorative Justice and Youth Advocacy Association (Local: Chilliwack, BC)
Chilliwack Restorative Justice and Youth Advocacy Association is a volunteer based, community organization focused on delivering programs and services in the areas of crime prevention and public safety and fostering a safe and caring community through restorative approaches.
Church Council on Justice and Corrections (National: Ottawa, ON)
A national, ecumenical organization of faith communities and individuals advocating for healing justice. While its primary focus is criminal justice, this coalition knows its work is inextricably linked to human rights, healthy communities and social justice. Its resources, projects and messages embrace church, multi-faith and secular partners.
Communities Embracing Restorative Action (CERA) (Regional: Coquitlam, BC)
The mission at CERA is to enhance the quality of justice in the communities we serve through restorative measures that attempt to repair the harm caused by crime, resolve conflict, and restore balance in relationships. CERA believes certain conflicts caused by crime are best resolved within the community through restorative justice.
Community Justice Initiatives (Local: Kitchener, ON)
CJI strives to build a safer, more connected community through supporting creative, peaceful solutions in situations of conflict or harm. It is known worldwide as having started the first restorative justice program.
Community Legal Education Association Manitoba (CLEA)
CLEA is a non-profit organization that provides public legal education services to Manitobans. We believe people must understand the law and the legal system to participate equally in a democratic society.
Crime Stoppers of Halton (Regional: Halton, ON)
A citizen and media co-operative organized to involve the public living in Burlington, Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills in the fight against crime. Offers anonymous reporting for theft, violence, bullying, and abuse.
Crime Stoppers of Sarnia-Lambton (Regional: Sarnia, ON)
Crime Stoppers is a Sarnia-Lambton community based program that brings local citizens, the media and the police together in partnership to solve crime. This is accomplished by offering cash rewards and guaranteeing anonymity to persons who furnish information leading to the arrest of or laying of charges against offenders.
Elizabeth Fry Society of Manitoba (Regional: Winnipeg, MB)
The Elizabeth Fry Society of Manitoba is a nonprofit, community-based agency that’s mandate is to reduce the number of women and girls involved in the criminal justice system by providing a variety of programs, services, and advocacy support to women and girls who are in conflict with the law or have been in conflict with the law.
Fraser Region Community Justice Initiatives Association (Regional: Langley, BC)
The agency has more than 20 years of experience providing conflict resolution services within a restorative justice framework in such settings as the criminal justice system, workplace, community, institutions, organizations, churches, schools and businesses, and for private individuals. Its mission is to foster peacemaking and the resolution of conflict in the community through the development and application of restorative justice values, principles, and processes.
Gatehouse, The
Survivors of abuse need a safe pace to tell their stories. The Gatehouse is a two-story Victorian house lovingly restored by Toronto’s Lakeshore community in order to provide a place for survivors of abuse to do so. Police and Children’s Aid workers use our interview room to videotape the testimony of children who have been abused. Youth and adult survivors of abuse also access the house and the various support groups. We will also offer an adult male survivors group and a parent peer support group. Clients can also access individual counselling when appropriate and all in need benefit from our food bank. We are supported by a 200 member volunteer base and a committed community of friends. The Gatehouse, a safe place where everyone has a voice.
International Institute on Special Needs Offenders and Policy Research (Canada)
IISNO Canada was established to meet the needs of governmental and non-governmental organizations, service providers and service users on behalf of those who are mentally ill and/or developmentally disabled or persons with special needs who are in conflict with the law.
John Howard Society
An organization of provincial and territorial Societies comprised of and governed by people whose goal is to understand and respond to problems of crime and the criminal justice system.
John Howard Society of Durham Region
John Howard Society of Edmonton
John Howard Society of Newfoundland
John Howard Society of Peel-Halton
John Howard Society of Saskatchewan
John Howard Society of York Region
Law Students’ Legal Advice Program (Local: Vancouver, BC)
LSLAP is a nonprofit society run by law students at the University of British Columbia. They provide free advice and representation to clients who would otherwise be unable to afford legal assistance. Clinics are located throughout the Greater Vancouver Regional District.
Legal Resource Centre of Alberta (Regional: Edmonton, AB)
The Legal Resource Centre’s mission is to enhance the accessibility and quality of justice realized in Canada. It addresses its mission by creating learning opportunities and building learning communities that facilitate the creation, management, exchange, and integration of knowledge among people within the justice system and between them and the general public.
Legal Services Society (LSS) (Regional: Vancouver, BC)
Created by the Legal Services Society Act in 1979, LSS is a non-profit organization funded primarily by the Ministry of Attorney General. The organization provides legal aid to citizens in BC through their various regional and local agent offices.
L.I.N.C Society
L.I.N.C. is an organization that works with all people impacted by the criminal justice system. L.I.N.C. (Long term Inmates Now in the Community) Society is the first positive-awareness group entirely run by ex-offenders in Canada. The L.I.N.C. Society is a non-profit charity that works to develop positive understanding and dialog between prison institutions, long-term offenders and the community. Since 1992, the L.I.N.C. Society has worked to build awareness of its members and their struggle to break the cycle of incarceration and create fulfilling, meaningful lives for themselves.
M2/W2 Association
A Christian non-profit organization of the United Way which provides friendship resources to prisoners, re-integration and accountability resources to ex-prisoners, and other criminal justice services that promote wholeness, restoration and healing for all affected by crime.
National Pardon Centre (National: Montreal, PQ)
A federal nonprofit organization that assists individuals with the removal or destruction of their Canadian criminal record(s).
Ontario Women’s Justice Network (Regional: Toronto, ON)
A legal resource for women’s organizations and individuals working on issues related to justice and violence against women and their children.
Operation Springboard (Regional: Toronto, ON)
Operation Springboard’s mandate is to build stronger communities by helping youth and adults develop the skills they need to reach their full potential. As a charitable organization, they deliver innovative, professional and diverse programming by establishing partnerships between their clients and their community. Springboard’s program areas include community justice, employment and developmental disability services.
Owen Sound and Area Family YMCA (Regional: Owen Sound, ON)
In an attempt to reduce future criminal behaviour and assist offenders in the reintegration process, the Owen Sound and Family YMCA provides a variety of community justice programs to youth and adults throughout Grey and Bruce counties. Community Service Orders, Crime Prevention and Anger Management workshops, Youth Justice Circles and Extrajudicial Sanctions provide a voice to the community while working with the police and courts to hold offenders accountable for their actions.
PACT Urban Peace Program (Local: Toronto, ON)
The PACT Urban Peace Program is a multi award-winning Toronto-based charity dedicated to working with at-risk youth and youth in conflict with the law. PACT builds peace and hope in their urban community in partnership with the courts, schools, and other youth-focused agencies.
Pathways to Freedom Ministries (Regional: Lower Sackville, NS)
A Christian one-on-one mentoring program for men, women and youth currently incarcerated in, or recently released from, a corrections facility in Atlantic Canada. They facilitate restoration in the community and assist the inmate in their faith.
PLEA Community Services Society of BC (Regional: Vancouver, BC)
PLEA was established in 1979 as a nonprofit society dedicated to innovation and excellence in working with young offenders, children, and young people at-risk and their families.
Prison Fellowship Canada
A Christian organization dedicated to meeting the needs of those affected by crime. Working through local chapters throughout the country, PFC volunteers work with prisoners, ex-prisoners and families in a variety of ways.
Prisoners’ HIV/AIDS Support Action Network (PASAN) (National: Toronto, ON)
PASAN is a community-based network of prisoners, ex-prisoners, organizations, activists and individuals working together to provide advocacy, education, and support to prisoners on HIV/AIDS, HCV and related issues.
Ray of Hope (Regional: Kitchener, ON)
Our mission is to demonstrate the love of Christ to those who are disadvantaged, marginalized and/or in conflict with the law. We work to rehabilitate young offenders in our custody facilities, provide basic needs of people in poverty at our drop-in centre, and help people escape poverty through employment training.
Restorative Justice Chatham-Kent (Regional: Chatham, ON)
Restorative Justice Chatham-Kent, a Canadian, registered nonprofit agency, provides alternative and extrajudicial measures as an alternative to the criminal justice system as outlined in the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Their mission is to involve the victim, offender and community restoring broken relationships.
St. Dismas Prison Ministry Society (SDPMS) (Regional: Airdrie, AB)
SDPMS provides reintegration and aftercare programs, services, and support to prisoners, helping them to effect positive and lasting change both in correctional institutions as well as in the community upon release.
Salvation Army Correctional and Justice Services (Regional: London, ON)
Our nonprofit agency provides individuals with a variety of options for healing. Addictions counselling, community service orders, life skills, prison ministry, and more are available to all in London and Southwestern Ontario. Many programs for young offenders as well.
SEA Mission Inc.
SEA Mission Inc. is a nonprofit organization that seeks to help Canadian prisoners and their families. The charity focuses on achieving three goals – rehabilitation of jail inmates, improving the lives of inmates’ families/ impoverished families and youth crime prevention. As a Christian organization, they seek to reach out God’s love and compassion to the lonely men and women in prison and provide support to their families and children, financially, educationally, and emotionally.
Seventh Step Society of Canada
Realistic thinking, positive peer pressure and the self help philosophy can help incorrigible and recidivist offenders to change their behaviour and attitudes and help them become productive members of the community; Seventh Step Agencies and Chapters have developed throughout the nation with the primary purpose of reducing recidivism. The Seventh Step Society of Canada has been formed to unite these Agencies and Chapters and encourage them to share and practice a common ideal in the therapy of the offender.
St. Leonard’s Society of Canada (National: Ottawa, ON)
A membership-based, charitable organization dedicated to community safety. We promote humane and informed justice policy and responsible leadership to foster safe communities through: evidence-based approaches to criminal and social justice; research and policy; support to member affiliates; and collaborative relationships and communication among individuals and organizations dedicated to social justice.
Turn On the Lights (Regional: Charlottetown, PE)
This organization raises awareness on childhood sexual abuse through the use of social media, and reaching out in our community. They will in the near future be providing financial assistance to families in need, after they have reported the crime.
Victim Services of Perth County (Regional: Stratford, ON)
Victim Services of Perth County is dedicated to providing short term emotional support, practical assistance, and community referral to victims of crime and tragic circumstance in partnership with community and emergency services.
Victims of Violence (National: Ottawa, ON)
The mandate of this organization is to provide supportive care and assistance to victims of violent crime and to assist families of missing children in the search for their loved ones. The organization began in 1984 when the founding member lost a loved child to a violent offender, and has henceforth been on a mission to educate children on personal safety issues, andare the biggest distributor of free child protection information packages in Canada (“Child ID Kit” program).
Victoria Sexual Assault Centre (Local: Victoria, BC)
The Victoria Sexual Assault Centre is a feminist organization committed to ending sexualized violence through healing, education, and prevention. We are dedicated to supporting women and all Trans survivors of sexual assault and childhood sexual abuse, through advocacy, counselling, and empowerment.
Waseskun Healing Center (Local: Saint-Alphonse-Rodriguez, QC)
Waseskun is a healing center dedicated to assisting Aboriginal men for long-term intensive treatment related to drug and alcohol abuse, family violence, sexual abuse issues, anger and stress management, and other community or family concerns. Waseskun, besides being a community within itself, also offers intensive residential family therapy to include the resident’s family, with the support of the community, in the healing process.
YouCAN
A national non-profit charitable organization that works with young adults to: promote the peaceful resolution of personal, community, and societal conflicts; promote the concept of nonviolence, peer mediation and conflict resolution; establish a Canadian network of peer mediators and youth peace-makers; and to highlight and affirm the work of peace-makers of all ages, especially that of young Canadians.
Youth Diversion Program
Offers programs to at-risk and delinquent youth in Kingston, Ontario Canada. We serve 500 youth through the efforts and commitment of 100 volunteers. We are a registered charity in operation for over 25 years.
