S2 episode 4 with Courtney Russell: Giving Youth a Second Chance

Helping young people find their way through challenging life circumstances and sometimes poor choices that can hold them back from reaching their full potential-Calgary Youth Justice Society

In episode 4 of season 2, Agnes chats with Courtney Russell, a passionate employee, who shares the incredible work of the Calgary Youth Justice Society and the commitment of the organizations in supporting our youth.

Courtney Russell (she/her) is a former Correctional Service Worker at the Calgary Young Offenders Centre and is now the Community Engagement Coordinator for the Calgary Youth Justice Committee Program run through the Calgary Youth Justice Society. Courtney has been in the community educating those around us on how we can all support youth who live in our own communities and who may be involved in the Justice System. In addition, she helps to educate the youth, their parents, and family who may be struggling with lack of resources and misunderstandings of how the Justice System works in Canada and how to provide a positive support system for the Youth we serve. She believes that every single youth has great abilities and amazing potential ahead, they may just need support in seeing that.

Youth Justice Committee Program- Section 18 of the Youth Criminal Justice Act provides an opportunity for community members to become directly involved in the administration of youth justice by forming Youth Justice Committees (YJCs). A YJC is an alternative to the court system for young people aged 12 up to 18 who are facing a minor charge. Community volunteers work with young people as well as their families, victims, the legal system, and the community to help young people move through and past a minor offence by holding them accountable without holding them back. With support, young people from all walks of life turn their mistakes into opportunities to grow and give back to their communities.

https://calgaryyouthjustice.ca/programs-services/cyjc/

https://www.facebook.com/cyjsyyc

https://www.instagram.com/calgaryyouthjusticecommittees/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/calgaryyouthjusticesociety/