About Us

John Howard Society holds a unique and important place amongst the variety of services available to members of the community. The Society’s clients are those persons who have, in varying degrees of severity, injured the community through involvement in criminal activity. Loosely described, criminal activity comprises any action(s) contravening the Criminal Code of Canada and includes offences ranging from mischief to murder. The Society does not involve itself in civil court (e.g. lawsuits) or Family Court (e.g. matrimonial, etc.) matters in isolation.

The Society holds the view that any offence is an offence against the community and that crime is a social problem most effectively addressed through education, improvement of social conditions and the availability of opportunity. The community is urged to respond to crime through offering realistic and workable alternatives in the administration of justice based on sound and credible knowledge.

The problem of crime in our communities will not simply go away. Government cannot legislate rational thinking or responsible behaviour. Crime will continue to be a fact of everyday life and will continue to be an issue affecting community health. Continued reliance on a long-ineffective and increasingly overworked justice system will only serve to exacerbate personal and social problems related to criminality.

There is no simple, immediate, or guaranteed solution to the problem of crime. The processes of rehabilitation and reintegration require expertise, diligence, and time. The Society’s daily active involvement with clients of all ages represents an indispensable community resource in the area of crime prevention.

As an agency, the John Howard Society works on behalf of the entire community to make it a better, safer place for all its residents.