Lesson 3 — Activity 5: Justice Advocacy Groups
Completion requirements
Lesson 3 — Activity 5:
Justice
Advocacy Groups
Warm Up
Justice
advocacy groups try to solve the underlying reasons for crime. They provide public education about laws and the
justice
system, help reintegrate offenders into society, stand up for the rights of the accused in crimes, and call for measures to improve the fairness of the
justice
system for those who are accused and harmed by crimes. In this lesson, you will learn about two advocacy groups: the John Howard Society and the Elizabeth Fry Society.
@istock
There are two
justice
advocacy groups in Alberta — the John Howard Society and the Elizabeth Fry society.
There are two
justice
advocacy groups in Alberta — the John Howard Society and the Elizabeth Fry society.
The role of
the John Howard Society is to be like a conscience for the justice
system. The society works with men, women, boys, and girls in trouble
with the law. The John Howard Society of Alberta is a non-profit agency
concerned with the problem of crime and its prevention. The organization
takes its name and spirit from the 18th century humanitarian John
Howard, whose name has become a symbol of humane consideration for
prisoners.
@creativecommons
The role of the John Howard Society is to be like a conscience for the justice system. The society works with men, women, boys, and girls in trouble with the law. The John Howard Society of Alberta is a non-profit agency concerned with the problem of crime and its prevention. The organization takes its name and spirit from the 18th century humanitarian John Howard, whose name has become a symbol of humane consideration for prisoners.
@creativecommons
The society examines evidence to see what really needs to be accomplished. They try to solve the underlying reasons of crime, such as inadequate food or shelter. They look at what can be done to prevent crime, such as community development and recreation for young people.
Click here to learn more about the John Howard Society of Alberta.
Some of the services that the John Howard Society provides includes:
- housing and help finding housing
- help finding employment
- help finding other community services
- supportive services
- public legal education programs for schools and community groups
- financial literacy courses at the Edmonton Remand Centre
- housing for youth experiencing homelessness
- services for individuals involved in domestic violence
The Elizabeth Fry Society focuses on justice issues for women and girls. Their aim is to provide convicted women and girls a place to heal and grow. They believe that the justice system needs to look at each case individually. Every offender is an individual, and the situation is individual. They help reintegrate people into society. They strive in preventing crime by providing needed resources.
The society receives their name from Elizabeth Fry, a prison reformer. Her insight, persistence, and her willingness to see a "divine light" in every person resulted in striking reforms taking place in the manner in which women and children were treated.
@creativecommons
The Elizabeth Fry Society offers many programs and services to women and girls at risk of being criminalized. Some of the services that the Elizabeth Fry Society provides includes:
- Aboriginal women's programs
- community resource programs
- court programs
- employment services
- financial literacy
-
the Girls Empowered and Strong program
- legal clinics
- prison liaison programs
- record suspension programs