Schedule 'A' - Mandate and Objectives Summaries

Mandate and Objectives Summaries

Objectives

Suggested by CRD	Existing Committee Objective/Mandate
The Committee has the following objectives: (a) to identify, inform, assess, educate, and report on regional resources for youth justice and family court issues and related needs; (b) to act as a resource for the public and youth and family organizations; and (c) to encourage collaboration between and visibility of community services.	N/A The current Committee Constitution and Terms of Reference make no mention of mandate or purposes, though there are references to the PCA and YCJA.

Comments: The Committee should clearly identify objectives to guide it in its core work.

Additional Activities of the Committee

Suggested by CRD	Existing Committee Objective/Mandate
The Committee may, within its mandate: (a) take positions on policy initiatives, legislation, and services affecting families and youth justice in the region, in the name of the “Victoria Family Court and Youth Justice Committee”; and (b) undertake other activities consistent with the activities of a family court and youth justice committee, as permitted by law. Subject to bylaws, policies, and procedures, the Committee may: (a) establish advisory groups to examine specific issues, who will report on their work; (b) contract for support services, volunteer coordination, communications, feasibility studies, and other services and goods related to its mandate; (c) undertake necessary, incidental, or ancillary administrative tasks in order to effect its work.	The Family Court Committee can: a) Be a force in educating the public on issues related to Family Court; b) Sit in on court hearings to monitor the actions of all officials concerned with the welfare of youth and to assist judges upon request; c) Inform the Intermunicipal and the Capital Regional Electoral District Committees of the problems which are of concern to the community; d) Enter and monitor both open and closed custody facilities as concerned members of the public; e) Comment upon legislation concerning families and youth; f) Make recommendations to appropriate legislative bodies concerning any matters deemed to be covered by our several mandates; g) Be visible within the community and recognized as the appropriate body to whom complaints can be made, and to whom recommendations can be proposed for improvement. [1985 Constitution Summary]

Suggested by CRD

Existing Committee Objective/Mandate

The Committee may, within its mandate:
(a) take positions on policy initiatives, legislation, and services affecting families and youth justice in the region, in the name of the “Victoria Family Court and Youth Justice Committee”; and
(b) undertake other activities consistent with the activities of a family court and youth justice committee, as permitted by law.

Subject to bylaws, policies, and procedures, the Committee may:
(a) establish advisory groups to examine specific issues, who will report on their work;
(b) contract for support services, volunteer coordination, communications, feasibility studies, and other services and goods related to its mandate;
(c) undertake necessary, incidental, or ancillary administrative tasks in order to effect its work.

The Family Court Committee can:
a) Be a force in educating the public on issues related to Family Court;
b) Sit in on court hearings to monitor the actions of all officials concerned with the welfare of youth and to assist judges upon request;
c) Inform the Intermunicipal and the Capital Regional Electoral District Committees of the problems which are of concern to the community;
d) Enter and monitor both open and closed custody facilities as concerned members of the public;
e) Comment upon legislation concerning families and youth;
f) Make recommendations to appropriate legislative bodies concerning any matters deemed to be covered by our several mandates;
g) Be visible within the community and recognized as the appropriate body to whom complaints can be made, and to whom recommendations can be proposed for improvement.
[1985 Constitution Summary]

Comments: Concerns were raised by the Committee’s Chair about losing the ability to perform certain work as a body of CRD. The suggested mandate is broad enough to encompass historical tasks and undertake future obligations consistent with its objectives.

PCA Language Summary

Suggested	Provincial Court Act
The Committee is hereby tasked with the following duties: (a) to meet at least four times per year to: i. consider and examine community resources for family and children’s matters; ii. make recommendations to the court, the Attorney General, or others; iii. solicit and consider applications for receipt of grant-funding;* and iv. connect family-and-justice-involved individuals, service providers, and government in a way that encourages collaboration and identifies service gaps; (b) if requested by the court, to act a resource or assist as directed; and (c) report annually to its member local governments and the Attorney General on activities and recommendations.	(6) The family court committee must do the following: (a) meet at least 4 times a year to consider and examine the resources of the community for family and children's matters, to assist the court when requested and generally, and to make the recommendations to the court, the Attorney General or others it considers advisable; (b) assist the officers and judges of the court, if requested, to provide a community resource or assistance in individual cases referred to the committee; (c) report annually to the municipalities involved and to the Attorney General respecting their activities during the past year.

Suggested

Provincial Court Act

The Committee is hereby tasked with the following duties:
(a) to meet at least four times per year to:
i. consider and examine community resources for family and children’s matters;
ii. make recommendations to the court, the Attorney General, or others;
iii. solicit and consider applications for receipt of grant-funding;* and
iv. connect family-and-justice-involved individuals, service providers, and government in a way that encourages collaboration and identifies service gaps;
(b) if requested by the court, to act a resource or assist as directed; and
(c) report annually to its member local governments and the Attorney General on activities and recommendations.

(6) The family court committee must do the following:
(a) meet at least 4 times a year to consider and examine the resources of the community for family and children's matters, to assist the court when requested and generally, and to make the recommendations to the court, the Attorney General or others it considers advisable;
(b) assist the officers and judges of the court, if requested, to provide a community resource or assistance in individual cases referred to the committee;
(c) report annually to the municipalities involved and to the Attorney General respecting their activities during the past year.

Comments: A plain-language PCA reproduction, with grant-making and collaboration added.

YCJA Language Summary

Suggested by CRD	Youth Criminal Justice Act
Not considered necessary to reproduce due to length. Encompassed in the “act as a resource or as directed”, “undertake other activities”, and mandate.	(a) in the case of a young person alleged to have committed an offence, (i) giving advice on the appropriate extrajudicial measure to be used in respect of the young person, (ii) supporting any victim of the alleged offence by soliciting his or her concerns and facilitating the reconciliation of the victim and the young person, (iii) ensuring that community support is available to the young person by arranging for the use of services from within the community, and enlisting members of the community to provide short-term mentoring and supervision, and (iv) when the young person is also being dealt with by a child protection agency or a community group, helping to coordinate the interaction of the agency or group with the youth criminal justice system; (b) advising the federal and provincial governments on whether the provisions of this Act that grant rights to young persons, or provide for the protection of young persons, are being complied with; (c) advising the federal and provincial governments on policies and procedures related to the youth criminal justice system; (d) providing information to the public in respect of this Act and the youth criminal justice system; (e) acting as a conference; and (f) any other functions assigned by the person who establishes the committee.

Suggested by CRD

Youth Criminal Justice Act

Not considered necessary to reproduce due to length.

Encompassed in the “act as a resource or as directed”, “undertake other activities”, and mandate.

(a) in the case of a young person alleged to have committed an offence,
(i) giving advice on the appropriate extrajudicial measure to be used in respect of the young person,
(ii) supporting any victim of the alleged offence by soliciting his or her concerns and facilitating the reconciliation of the victim and the young person,
(iii) ensuring that community support is available to the young person by arranging for the use of services from within the community, and enlisting members of the community to provide short-term mentoring and supervision, and
(iv) when the young person is also being dealt with by a child protection agency or a community group, helping to coordinate the interaction of the agency or group with the youth criminal justice system;
(b) advising the federal and provincial governments on whether the provisions of this Act that grant rights to young persons, or provide for the protection of young persons, are being complied with;
(c) advising the federal and provincial governments on policies and procedures related to the youth criminal justice system;
(d) providing information to the public in respect of this Act and the youth criminal justice system;
(e) acting as a conference; and
(f) any other functions assigned by the person who establishes the committee.

Other Mandate Language

Richmond

Mandate copies the PCA;
RFCC functions as a link between the Court and City Council whereby:
- Court personnel and clients may draw on the concern and support of the community;
- Family and youth resources may be monitored; and
- Community may become educated about the justice system and its effects on children, youth and families;

Vancouver

Provides input to City Council and staff about issues of concern;
Considers any matters which may referred to the Committee by Council or staff and take under consideration matters proposed by the Vancouver Board of Education;
Reviews and advises Council and staff on the development, implementation and assessment of City policies and services related to children, youth and families;
Advocates for the best interests of children, youth and families;
Identifies opportunities and empowers children and youth to have a voice in civic decision making;
Provides recommendations to staff and Council on issues affecting children, youth and families;
May take positions on policy initiatives from other levels of government within the mandate of the Committee; and
Acts as a family court committee under the BC Provincial Court Act … or a youth justice committee under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Works co-operatively with other agencies whose activities affect constituent communities, including initiating and developing relevant projects;
Acts as a resource for staff doing public involvement processes and civic events;
Exchanges information with constituent communities and the general public about relevant programs and areas of interest; and
Engages in outreach to disseminate information and encourage participation from constituent communities.