Programs & Services
Programs
Family Transportation Program
A three-year prison sentence is a long time for the man inside, but it can be an eternity for his five-year-old son or daughter. A woman whose husband or son is imprisoned often must face the stigma of imprisonment, and her community’s hostility, alone. Many women face financial problems and must struggle to keep their families together.
Just getting to one of the prisons in Kingston for a monthly visit is often too expensive to manage for many families. Relationships break down. Families are torn apart. It is cruel that some children are deprived of seeing their fathers because they are poor. They are paying a high price for problems not of their making.
When children of prisoners do manage to keep in touch with their dad, they generally fare better than children who lose contact. They show fewer of the symptoms of emotional disturbance, anger, and anxiety than do children who are deprived of their fathers.
Similarly, stable family ties are a big factor influencing a released prisoner’s chances of staying out of trouble, and starting over successfully. Studies show that those who have been able to maintain strong family ties, and have a strong stake in the future, are less likely to re-offend after their release.
The transportation service was started in 1969 by two inmates from Warkworth Institution. While in prison they found it difficult to stay close to their families. It was clear to them that the cost of transportation was a major obstacle and they soon learned it was a problem shared by many prisoners and their families.
In its first year of operation, 500 people were taken to visit their loved ones in prison. Today, over 3,000 individuals receive safe, affordable transportation to and from prisons in southern Ontario.
It makes sense to support the efforts, commitment, and determination of families to stay together.
For more information about our Transportation Program
Please call us at (416) 408-1618
or by e-mail: cchin@johnhowardtor.on.ca
Community Justice Program
This program provides adults charged with mostly minor first time criminal offence(s) an alternative to the formal court process. Individuals charged are still held accountable for their actions by completing community based sanctions. Upon successfully satisfying the program, through the options of charitable donations, volunteer community work, participating in workshops or programs, the charge(s) against the individual is withdrawn by the court. We offer Community Justice Programs at the Metro North Courthouse and the Metro West Provincial Court.
Aboriginal Outreach Program
Working within the Aboriginal community, community agencies and local jails to provide anger management, traditional teachings, support services, counselling, and healing & talking circles.
Public Education
- We work closely with our community/coalition groups to educate individuals about the social justice issues affecting our clients.
- We provide information and workshops about the criminal justice system and it's impact on society.
- We help individuals to address barriers inside and outside of federal and provincial correctional facilities.
- We participate in research initiatives to enhance societal understanding about the needs of our clients.
Intake, Counselling, and Case Management
- Individual clients meet with counsellors to share information and develop a plan of care during
the intake interview. - One on one sessions with professional counsellors help clients problem solve to make positive
life changes. - Counsellors provide internal referrals to Society programs and external referrals to other community
agencies as needed.
Breaking the Cycle of Addiction
- Experienced addiction counsellors offer addiction counselling to match the specific needs of the
individual with the appropriate treatment program (e.g. S.T.A.R.T. ~ Scarborough Treatment Addiction Resources Team). - Weekly relapse prevention groups, motivational groups, individual counselling, community
partnerships, and specific on-site institutional addiction counselling programs are offered to all
individuals in need of support.
