John Howard Society
Encyclopedia
The John Howard Society is a Canadian non-profit organization that seeks to develop understanding and effective responses to the problem of crime
and prison reform
. It is named after John Howard
. This society works with adults; all children and youths to help rebuild their lives.
By 1929, Toronto's chief of police at the time, Chief Draper noted a need to reactivate the work done by the church group thus creating the Citizens Service Association. This association was volunteer operated and assisted prisoners re-entering society in finding housing, clothing and employment.
The idea spread and in 1931 British Columbia saw a similar institution created by Reverend J. Dinnage Hobden under the name we now know it as, the John Howard Society named after John Howard who was a prison reformer living from 1726 until 1790.
In 1946, the Citizens Service Association followed suit and became the John Howard Society of Ontario. Between 1947 and 1960 most other provinces created their own version of the Association. The John Howard Society of Canada was formed in February of 1962 when all provinces (excluding Quebec) approved a constitution. In 1980, Quebec
joined and in 1994 the Northwest Territories
.
Today, John Howard society offices and branches can be found in sixty communities across Canada, in all of the provinces and the Northwest Territories. The John Howard Society has sixty-five offices across Canada which specialize in the reintegration of individuals exiting the prison system back into society. They also work to keep individuals from making decisions that will increase their likelihood of contact with the law. In addition to this, their head office is located in Kingston, Ontario
which is within driving distance of 10 penitentiaries.
and their application are all newer considerations as society and the criminal justice system change.
In addition to working with people in penitentiaries, Societies today also work with adults and youth in correctional facilities that are either federally and provincially operated. These services offer programming for offenders in custody and in the community and also assist those who have been labeled as "at risk" to continue to live or reintegrate into living "within the law."
Crime
Crime is the breach of rules or laws for which some governing authority can ultimately prescribe a conviction...
and prison reform
Prison reform
Prison reform is the attempt to improve conditions inside prisons, aiming at a more effective penal system.-History:Prisons have only been used as the primary punishment for criminal acts in the last couple of centuries...
. It is named after John Howard
John Howard (prison reformer)
John Howard was a philanthropist and the first English prison reformer.-Birth and early life:Howard was born in Lower Clapton, London. His father, also John, was a wealthy upholsterer at Smithfield Market in the city...
. This society works with adults; all children and youths to help rebuild their lives.
History of the John Howard Society
The John Howard Society was created in 1867 by a church group focused on providing spiritual care to prisoners in a Toronto prison. Later in 1874, this group became recognized as the Prisoners Aid Association of Toronto. Also around this time, they discovered more was needed by this group of prisoners than the spiritual care they had been providing. Unfortunately, World War 1 had immense effect on the church group and interest in their work decreased.By 1929, Toronto's chief of police at the time, Chief Draper noted a need to reactivate the work done by the church group thus creating the Citizens Service Association. This association was volunteer operated and assisted prisoners re-entering society in finding housing, clothing and employment.
The idea spread and in 1931 British Columbia saw a similar institution created by Reverend J. Dinnage Hobden under the name we now know it as, the John Howard Society named after John Howard who was a prison reformer living from 1726 until 1790.
In 1946, the Citizens Service Association followed suit and became the John Howard Society of Ontario. Between 1947 and 1960 most other provinces created their own version of the Association. The John Howard Society of Canada was formed in February of 1962 when all provinces (excluding Quebec) approved a constitution. In 1980, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
joined and in 1994 the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
.
Today, John Howard society offices and branches can be found in sixty communities across Canada, in all of the provinces and the Northwest Territories. The John Howard Society has sixty-five offices across Canada which specialize in the reintegration of individuals exiting the prison system back into society. They also work to keep individuals from making decisions that will increase their likelihood of contact with the law. In addition to this, their head office is located in Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
which is within driving distance of 10 penitentiaries.
John Howard Society of Today
The people who comprise the John Howard Society of today, have much the same focus as the original groups with a few additions. For example, advocating for change in the criminal justice process and public education around the issues of prison conditions, criminal lawCriminal law
Criminal law, is the body of law that relates to crime. It might be defined as the body of rules that defines conduct that is not allowed because it is held to threaten, harm or endanger the safety and welfare of people, and that sets out the punishment to be imposed on people who do not obey...
and their application are all newer considerations as society and the criminal justice system change.
In addition to working with people in penitentiaries, Societies today also work with adults and youth in correctional facilities that are either federally and provincially operated. These services offer programming for offenders in custody and in the community and also assist those who have been labeled as "at risk" to continue to live or reintegrate into living "within the law."