Youth Justice Assessment Services

Since 1974, the Centre for Children and Families in the Justice System (formerly the London Family Court Clinic) has provided multi-disciplinary mental-health assessments for young people (age 12 to 17) who are before the Youth Justice Court in southern Ontario, Canada. Members of this team synthesize information from a variety of sources with the insights gained through lengthy discussions with the family. The goal is to recommend a strategy to the Court to hold the young person accountable while addressing preciptating factors to prevent a re-occurrence of the law breaking. Assessments can be ordered:

• to assist in ordering a sentence
• to assist in the review of an existing sentence
• when considering whether an adult sentence may be imposed
• for fitness to stand trial, with the assistance of our consulting psychiatrist
• for mental disorder which affects criminal liability, with the assistance of our consulating psychiatrist

We have special expertise in these areas:

• sexual offences
• fire setting
• drug or alcohol related issues
• violent offences
• murder or attempted murder
• intrafamilial offences
• youth who are self-injurious and/or suicidal
• serious mental disorders

An assessment is ordered to provide the court with more thorough or specific information to aid in the understanding of the circumstances which led to the commission of an offence. A thorough assessment will detail those factors in a young person's family history, psychological makeup, and personal experiences which contributed to his/her criminal behaviour. From this, the assessors suggest what type of intervention may diminish the likelihood of future offences. Included in the assessment process is identification and brokerage of the appropriate service and sentence specific to the youth's needs. Appropriate service to reduce future offences is the justice system's most effective route to enhance community safety.

Professional Services

The staff at the Centre cover a broad range of disciplines and are able to provide professional services such as expert testimony, clinical consultation, policy consultation, program consultation and training, and research services. Clinic personnel associated with the Youth Justice Assessment Service are qualified to provide expertise in the following areas:

• the Court's consideration of imposing an adult sentence
• fitness to stand trial
• intellectual competency
• adolescent sexual offending
• developmentally delayed offenders
• fetal alcohol syndrome/effect
• risk of re-offending
• suitability for treatment
• educational planning

When your son or daughter has been referred for an assessment

Information for Families: Youth Justice Court Assessments at the Centre This concise pamphlet answers the questions of parents/caregivers whose son, daughter or other young person in the family has been referred by the Youth Justice Court for a psychological assessment. You will learn about the assessment process, the purpose of the report, and examples of sentences available. While this material is designed specifically for families referred to the Centre for Children and Families in the Justice System, much of the information would apply to any place in Canada where reports are compiled under s. 34(1) of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Public Education

In addition to all of these activities, the Centre has taken an active part in education and consultation, with professional groups, direct service providers, and the broader public as well. A lengthy list of publications, presentations, and media interviews is testament to our goal of extending the work of the Centre to educate our communities about not only the problems of youth crime but also the promising directions that can promote community safety.

For more information on Youth Justice Assessment Services at the Centre, contact Dr. Dan Ashbourne, Director of Clinical Services.