Urge The Federal Government To Restore Funding To Evidence-Based Anti-Gang Prevention Programs
- Target:
- Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews, Public Finance Min. Jim Flaherty
- Region:
- Canada
- Website:
- www.facebook.com
By the end of March 2011, four evidence-based anti-gang prevention programs in Winnipeg will lose funding from the federal government. These programs help keep aboriginal and refugee youths out of gangs with recreational/cultural/educational/employment opportunities. All of these programs have a strong evidence base with successful prevention models in the United States. We need criminal justice policies that rely on research evidence, not fear-based ideology. The Youth Gang Prevention Fund, which has helped more than 1,000 young people across the country in the last five years (preventing them from gang involvement and helping them to get out), cost about $7.5 million a year for the last four years. It funded dozens of projects across the country, all of which are being forced to wind down by the end of March when the fund runs out. Public Safety Minister Vic Toews has not agreed to renew the funding. These programs are a success story and it doesn't make sense why the Conservatives have not committed to keeping them running. It is not cost-effective or ethically effective to close these programs and it will not reduce crime.
Prevention is the most effective method for accomplishing crime reductions. Imprisonment is expensive and largely ineffective at addressing the social causes of crime. Society is better protected when youth crime prevention programs are in place, than when youths are being incarcerated and displaced from their communities and their families. The prison environment is not conducive to facilitating self improvement. Instead of expanding prisons and incarcerating more people, the government should be funding education, employment opportunities, social services, prisoner rehabilitation/reintegration programs, mental health/substance abuse treatment programs, and crime prevention programs. Prisons should only be utilized for the most dangerous offenders. Low and moderate risk offenders should be placed on some form of community sanction. Concerns about street gangs, crime and violence are increasing in Winnipeg's inner city, however, the response from the Harper government is taking us in the wrong direction. Rather than building more prisons, we need to support the important work going on in our communities to address the root causes of gang involvement. Research shows community based crime prevention programs are working to address the causes of crime and gang involvement (education, employment skills/training, life skills, mentorship, recreational/cultural opportunities, negative peer associations, pro-social role models, family violence/abuse/neglect, etc.). They also benefit young people and their communities. In order for these programs to prosper, adequate funding is essential. We must change the conditions out of which street gangs inevitably emerge. This includes creating opportunities for young people by investing in educational and employment opportunities, and providing young people with the means and social supports that will divert them from lives of crime and violence and put them on a more productive path. We know from the research evidence, that the "get tough on crime" approach is unsuccessful at reducing, preventing or deterring crime. Imprisonment fails to solve complex social issues which often contribute to crime. Violence is prevalent in prisons and individuals are surrounded by others with anti-social attitudes. Gang recruitment and involvement is rising in prisons. Despite this, and despite the fact that Canada's prison ombudsman has described the climate in federal prisons as "increasingly harsh, tense and stressed," the Harper government insists on building more prisons. Money will spent to lock up more young and marginalized individuals from disadvantaged neighbourhoods, at a current cost of around $148,000 per year per federal prisoner. This strategy makes no sense especially when you consider that one inner city program that provides educational/employment/recreational/cultural opportunities costs around $54,000 per year per participant. The better and safer alternative is to use those dollars to reverse the cuts to anti-gang programs. Unless that is done, it is likely that some of the young men and women who would have benefited from the continuation of these anti-gang programs will soon return to or embark upon lives of crime and violence, and will end up in prison, where they will cost much more than the preventive programs that will have been cut, and where they will make additional contacts that will further fuel their criminal activities. Some people ought to be put in prison, because the rest of us need to be protected from them. But the best protection comes from prevention, and prevention requires investments in solutions that work in changing the underlying conditions that produce the problems of street gangs, crime, and violence. The Harper government is going down a simplistic, narrow minded, ignorant and dangerous path by cutting funds to anti-gang programs, and even more, by failing to invest in more constructive alternatives. Far from cutting anti-gang programs, we should be investing heavily in safer and healthier futures for all of us by promoting the creative educational and employment initiatives that will open up different paths for our young people. If we want to change gang violence, that is best done by investing in the future of our young people. As Don Davies said, "You can spend a few dollars ($6 million a year) to keep youth out of prison (and prevent them from gang involvement), or you can spend a lot to put them in prison ($2 billion for prison expansions)." Davies also noted, the federal government is cutting community gang prevention programs and spending more than $2 billion to expand prisons and put more people behind bars. It's estimated tough laws on sentencing will increase federal prison populations by 4,000 inmates in the next two to three years. "We are calling on the government to make smart on crime investments. It’s a shame that Stephen Harper is more interested in spending billions on building new jail cells than keeping kids out of trouble in the first place."
Successful programs, not increased incarceration, creates safer communities in the long term. These programs have beneficial effects on the youths involved and the surrounding communities. They are a critical component to addressing the risk factors relating to gang involvement. We must urge the federal government to restore funding to these crucial community based youth gang prevention programs. Cutting funding will only cost society more in the long run (prison costs and the increased risks of re-offending, lack of rehabilitation programs, increased gang involvement in prisons, etc.). How do prison expansions and cuts to crime prevention programs increase public safety in the city of Winnipeg (and Canada)?
*Here is some information about the programs*
CIRCLE OF COURAGE: http://www.kanikanichihk.ca/?page_id=47. http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/prg/cp/ythgng/cpa15-cc-eng.aspx. Run by Ka Ni Kanichihk, an inner city aboriginal agency. For: Aboriginal boys between 12 and 17 with criminal involvement. There are 18 youths in the program now and about 75 who have come through in past years. What: Mentorship, job and life skills, school tutoring, recreation like basketball and boxing, family programs, pre-employment training, cultural activities like sweat lodges, volunteering and help completing community service, help with housing, social services, counselling, providing positive alternative solutions for male aboriginal youth.
Project OASIS is run by New Directions. http://www.newdirections.mb.ca/services/training_ed/oasis.php. http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/prg/cp/ythgng/cpa10-po-eng.aspx. For: Refugees and newcomers from war-torn countries. Youths must be between 12 and 21 and be in a gang or at risk of joining a gang. There are about 20 kids in the program now and as many that have finished. Life skills, job training, employment assistance, recreation, social services referrals, family support, education, mental health treatment.
WEST CENTRAL YOUTH OUTREACH PROJECT: Run by the Spence Neighbourhood Association. Preventing at risk youth aged 12-18 from joining and engaging in gang activities in the west central area. http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/prg/cp/ythgng/cpa17-wcyop-eng.aspx. http://spenceneighbourhood.org/?page_id=174. Intensive outreach and help with basic needs like housing, clothing and food, recreation programs, job training, cultural programs, help finishing school, building positive supportive relationships, mentorship.
TURNING THE TIDES: Run by Ndinawe Youth Resource Centre. For youth aged 15-19 at risk of and/or involved with gang related issues. Provides youth support through mentorship, resources, employment opportunities, skill development, providing an alternative to gang involvement, recreational opportunities and support to youth and their families. http://www.ndinawe.ca/. http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/prg/cp/ythgng/cpa18-tt-eng.aspx.
JUST TV: Run by the Broadway Neighbourhood Centre. For youth ages 16-24 who are in gangs or at risk of joining gangs. Provides alternatives to gang activity, art-based programming, script writing, set design, photography, acting and production. http://thebnc.ca/. http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/prg/cp/ythgng/cpa04-jtv-eng.aspx.
Reverse the Cuts to Anti-Gang Programs: http://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/commentary/fast-facts-reverse-cuts-anti-gang-programs
Anti-gang programs in jeopardy; nationwide funding runs out April 1st: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/anti-gang-programs-in-jeopardy-ndp-115261319.html
Anti-gang funding anxiety strikes: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/columnists/anti-gang-funding-anxiety-strikes-114996609.html
Ottawa should pick rehabilitation over new prisons: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Tories+should+choose+rehabilitation+over+prisons/4219582/story.html
Don't walk away from youth crime prevention: http://www.endprohibition.ca/group/endprohibition/don%E2%80%99t-walk-away-youth-crime-prevention-ndp
Program costs less than a con: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/program-costs-less-than-a-con-martin-asserts-114996639.html
Freed from gangs but program in peril: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/freed-from-gangs-but-program-in-peril-114783774.html
Winnipeg anti-gang programs at risk: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2011/01/26/man-gang-programs-at-risk.html
Anti-gang programs to close: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/anti-gang-programs-to-close-114631089.html
More cops as kids return to the streets: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/more-cops-as-kids-return-to-streets-114706239.html
Davies calls to renew anti-gang funding: http://dondavies.ndp.ca/node/505
Programs cost less than a con: http://www.patmartin.ca/node/522
Davies calls to renew anti-gang funding: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/News/local/2011/02/03/17147676.html
Anti-gang groups may lose funding: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2010/06/24/mb-anti-gang-funding-winnipeg.html
NDP candidate fumes over dumping of anti-gang funding: http://www.thenownewspaper.com/candidate+fumes+over+dumping+anti+gang+funding+Surrey/4239188/story.html
Disgraceful decision to cut anti-gang funding must be reversed: http://anitaneville.liberal.ca/news/disgraceful-decision-to-cut-anti-gang-funding-must-be-reversed/
Right Hon. Stephen Harper, Prime Minister, Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada
Hon. Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety Canada
Hon. Michael Ignatieff, Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada
Hon. Jack Layton, Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada
Mr. Gilles Duceppe, Leader of the Bloc Québécois
Dear Sirs,
Re: Federal funding cuts to anti-gang programs
We, the undersigned, are concerned about the fact that the federal government has not committed to renew federal funding to nineteen evidence-based gang prevention programs located across Canada, for which funding under the Youth Gang Prevention Fund (under the National Crime Prevention Program) ends on March 31, 2011. Documents released by NDP federal critic for public safety and fellow New Democrat MP, Pat Martin, indicate that the Conservative government has no plans to continue to support these programs through funding renewals after funding ceases. Agencies are already preparing to lay staff off and are beginning to transition youth out of the program, as they do not know if their funding support will continue past the cutoff date. These organizations face the real possibility that they may be forced to shut down, unless they can find new funding. Research demonstrates that these programs can contribute to decreased gang involvement and increased community safety, by offering recreational, cultural, employment, family based, and educational opportunities for youth at risk of involvement and providing support, security and trust for young people. These programs have strong evidence bases in gang prevention models such as the OJJDP Comprehensive Gang (or "Spergal") Model, the Milwaukee Wraparound program and The Philadelphia Youth Violence Reduction Partnership. These models have been evaluated and have been proven to be successful. We strongly believe that the decision to cut anti-gang program funding, must be immediately reversed.
We believe that criminal justice policies should rely on the research evidence, as opposed to ideology.
The Youth Gang Prevention Fund has helped more than 1000 young people across the country in the last five years. The project has funded dozens of projects across the country, all of which are being forced to shut down by the end of March when the fund runs out.
We believe that community based crime prevention programs are the most effective method of reducing crime. Instead of spending billions on prison expansions and "tough on crime" bills which aim to incarcerate more people for longer periods of time, we believe that prevention programs which focus on addressing the risk factors for youth gang involvement and other crimes, are a better investment than incarceration and are beneficial for the individuals involved and the surrounding communities. In order for these programs to prosper, adequate funding is essential. We must change the conditions out of which street gangs inevitably emerge, by creating and investing in opportunities for young people, providing them with social supports, assistance, pro-social role models and positive alternatives to gang activities. We know from the research evidence, that the "get tough on crime" approach is largely unsuccessful at crime reduction, prevention and deterrence. With the recent announcement on prison expansions, more young and marginalized individuals from disadvantaged communities will inevitably be imprisoned, at a much higher cost than what a community based crime prevention program would cost to fund. According to MP Pat Martin, it costs more to keep one inmate in prison for one year than to fund an entire program aimed at reducing youth gang involvement.
The safer and more cost-effective alternative is to use those dollars to reverse the cuts to anti-gang programs. Unless that is done, it is likely that some youth who would have benefited from the continuation of these programs, will return to or embark upon lives of crime and violence and will end up in prison, where they will cost much more than the preventive programs that will have been cut, and where they will make additional contacts that will further fuel their criminal activities.
Additionally, prison expansions will likely lead to increased overcrowding, resulting in limited program availability for those who may have the desire to change and engage in the rehabilitative process. We realize that some dangerous offenders need to be in prison in order to protect the public. But we also acknowledge the fact that the best protection comes from prevention and prevention requires investments in solutions that work in changing the underlying social conditions which contribute to the risk of gang involvement, crime and violence.
The Harper government is heading down a simplistic and dangerous path by cutting funds to anti-gang programs and by failing to invest in constructive and positive alternatives for at-risk youths. Far from cutting anti-gang programs, we should be investing heavily in safer and healthier futures for all of society by promoting these prevention initiatives that will open up different paths for our young people. If we want to change gang violence, we must invest in the future of our young people. Successful programs, not increased incarceration, creates safer communities in the long term.
These prevention programs are a critical component to addressing the risk factors related to gang involvement. We urge the federal government to restore funding to these crucial community based gang prevention programs. Cutting funding will only cost society more in the long term, in terms of the costs associated with incarcerating an individual, the increased risk of re-offending which places society at risk, and the lack of adequate rehabilitation programs in correctional facilities which could lead to increased gang involvement, violence and crime in our communities.
There is strong evidence supporting these prevention programs, as an effective means of preventing gang involvement and contributing to community safety. We support the goal of improving community safety through evidence-based programs. We encourage you to renew funding to these prevention programs across Canada. We share the government's commitment to promoting public safety and reducing crime, but do not support the funding cuts to successful prevention initiatives, which will place an enormous burden on taxpayers in regards to increased incarceration, while failing to improve community safety and health. We are calling on the federal government to restore funding to gang prevention initiatives by pursuing an evidence-based policy approach that moves away from ineffective and costly incarceration. If funding is not restored, as of April 1st, these youths will have no place to go but the streets which could ultimately lead to imprisonment.
We look forward to your response.
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The Urge The Federal Government To Restore Funding To Evidence-Based Anti-Gang Prevention Programs petition to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews, Public Finance Min. Jim Flaherty was written by Brittany Thiessen and is in the category Justice at GoPetition.