The Ontario Community Justice Association is a non-profit association representing providers of community justice programming throughout the province of Ontario.

It is comprised of professionals from across Ontario who are employed by a community based organization affiliated with the justice system.

Our History

In 1979, the Community Service Order Association was initiated as an organization that would support all members who were involved in the delivery of Community Service in communities throughout Ontario.

In September 1992, the Association received full membership support to change its name to Ontario Community Justice Association (O.C.J.A.) and expand its membership to include all other community based, non-residential programs affiliated with the Criminal Justice System.

The "Association" was issued Patent (899340) under the Ontario Corporation Act in 1990, and received "Charitable Status" in January 1994.

Our Goals Are...

• To provide an opportunity for justice service providers to network and work together toward common goals.
• To explore and share among the membership.
• To provide a forum for sharing information, concerns and best practices.
• To represent and advocate for the concerns of members to the applicable government Ministries.
• To provide on-going training through sharing of information and annual conferences.
• To foster and encourage community-based programming affiliated with the criminal justice system.

What We Do

The OCJA is best known for its annual conference.  Held in the fall of each year, and rotated through the OCJA regions, this two-day event is a place where members and non-members meet to share best practices, goals and struggles in their community justice work.

The OCJA, though, is more than just a yearly conference.  The association is a network of community justice service providers sharing information and resources on a continual basis.

The OCJA Executive is comprised of a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary and Public Relations members.  Additionally, one member from each geographic region attends the Executive meetings and represents all members from that region.

The Regional Representatives are the conduit of information flowing from the Executive to the members.  Regional Representatives notify members of minutes when they are posted, share timely information and put forth questions to the membership for responses to go to the Executive to inform decision-making.

The Executive meets six times per year and facilitates the following:

• Public Relations:  By ensuring the website is updated regularly, members have access to membership lists, minutes of meetings and other information.  Members are encouraged to bookmark our website as a favourite and check it often.
• Representation:  Designated representatives from the OCJA Executive participate actively in the Ministry of Correctional Services Assistant Deputy Minister's Advisory Council on Adult Correctional Issues and the Ministry of Children and Youth's Advisory Council on Youth Justice Issues.  This representation ensures that all OCJA members are informed of arising issues and that OCJA member interests are advocated.
• Inclusion:  The Executive is comprised of members working with youth, members working with adults and members working with both populations, in a variety of community based programs.
• Best Practices:  The OCJA had aided in the development of both the Adult CSO and Youth CSO standards over the past years.  We have opportunities to share both program and policy development.  Currently, we are looking to our members to develop and share best practices information in regard to various programs.  This will be facilitated in the Spring Training session, at the Fall Conference and through the website.
• Advocacy:  The OCJA Executive advocates on behalf of its members regarding community justice issues.  In 2005/06, we were asked by MCYS to participate in the recommendations for standards for youth CSO.  Many of these ideas were considered in the development of the MCYS CSO standards.   We continue to advocate for:
  • Consistent pay equity resources from MCYS (past) Phase I and (past) Phase II agencies.
  • Consistent MCYS communication to all service providers
  • Equitable MCYS funding to similar service providers (ie all youth CSO service providers)
  • Informed and reasonable decision making program rationalization

   

Who Are Our Members

Our members develop and facilitate justice programs in communities across Ontario, such as:

• Adult Diversion Programs
• Adult Sentencing Options
• Attendance Centres
• Bail Supervision Programs
• Community Service Order Programs
• Extrajudicial Measures Programs
• Extrajudicial Sanctions Programs
• Individual and Group Counseling Programs
• Reintegration Programs
• Youth Justice Committees
• Prevention Programs