$400K funding to help Barrie, Ont.’s at-risk youth

65 per cent of the youth police charge have had at least five interactions with them.

The province is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to help keep at-risk youth out of trouble with the law by investing in programs designed to support them.

Altogether it’s $400,000 to the Barrie Police and John Howard Society for programs that aim to stop young people from committing crimes or reoffending if they already have.

It will be split with $200,000 over two years.

The first chunk of provincial spending goes to the Bright Futures Barrie Strategy that will set up recreational programs for at risk youth.

Barrie police say 65 per cent of the youth they charge have had at least five interactions with police before they’re arrested. This is expected to give officers options to try and get those kids off the path they’re on.

“They’re able to build resilience when they have positive programing around them and they participate, there’s potential there to reduce their interactions with us, reduce victimization, reduce criminalization,” said Barrie Chief Rich Johnston.

The other group getting money today is the John Soward Society with funds going to their programs for boys and men charged with crimes around gender-based violence.

“It’s to keep them on a positive track so that they don’t offend in the future,” said Hayley Murdoch-Fyke of the John Howard Society.

Attorney General Doug Downey says there’s no reason for the province to reinvent the wheel. Instead, it’s about giving money to local groups who are already doing the work to make our communities safer.

“We’re giving people pathways for other alternatives. And, and doing that, keeps them away from the trouble that they might otherwise get into,” Downey said.