Therapeutic Courts for Youth: Pros, Cons and Essential Components (2:06)

12:00  “Reflections on Ashley Smith”

Guest Speaker

• Professor Kim Pate, Executive Director, Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies; Professor, University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law (Common Law Section), Ottawa, ON

1:00  Therapeutic Courts for Youth: Pros, Cons and Essential Components

This program will involve presentations from three panelists who have had significant experience and success with therapeutic courts. The focus of the program will be the process and workings of therapeutic courts which serve youth with mental health needs. The objective of the program is to assist members of the audience in identifying and supporting the mental health needs of youth in a timely manner. At issue here is whether this type of court, as opposed to traditional courts, is better able to address social and personal issues of a young offender – such as poverty, addiction, and/or mental illness – that are often associated factors with the criminal behaviour.

Chair

• The Honourable Justice William Goodridge, Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, Trial Division, St. John’s, NL

Panelists

• The Honourable Judge Alfred Brien, Provincial Court of New Brunswick, Saint John, NB
• The Honourable Judge David Orr, Provincial Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John’s, NL
• Dr. Mary Ann Campbell, Professor, Psychology Department, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, NB