History of John Howard Societies in CanadaJohn Howard was a prison reformer in the 1700s. When he was elected to the office of High Sheriff in Bedford County in England, he used his position in a unique way, investigating the conditions of prisons in England and much of Europe. His activities and reports inspired the House of Commons to pass laws aimed at eradicating conditions which Howard brought to light. His writings encourage practices that brought prison systems several steps closer to becoming humanitarian and more effective. He advocated medical care of prisoners, that food be provided, that jailers not be allowed to profit from their prisoners, that prisoners be released when so ordered by the courts, and not required to pay a fee for the privilege, that young prisoners be separated from the old hardened prisoners, that male and female prisoners have separate accommodation, and that prisoners be allowed work and activity. For those unmanageable prisoners, he urged punishment by solitary confinement and a bread and water diet, rather than torture or punishment by the lash or scourge. The Canadian history of the John Howard Society began in 1867 with a group of church workers seeking to bring spiritual help to prisoners in the Toronto jail. In 1874 this small group became known as the “Prisoners Aid Association of Toronto.” They soon came to recognize that more than spiritual aid was needed by prisoners, but interest dwindled during World War I (1914-1918). In 1929 a citizens’ group led by Toronto’s Chief of Police, General Draper, reactivated their cause as the “Citizens Service Association.” Chief Draper understood that police work was undermined by the circumstances facing people upon release from prison. The Citizens Service Association – an organization of volunteers – set itself the task of providing practical help to ex-prisoners with housing, clothing and employment. In 1931 Reverend J. Dinnage Hobden formed a similar group in British Columbia under the name of the John Howard Society. John Howard lived from 1726 to 1790. His pioneering studies of the conditions of English and European prisons established the modern English-speaking prison reform movement. The John Howard Society – established to carry Howard’s mission – aided prisoners and ex-convicts in rehabilitation and re-integration following their sentence. In 1946 the “Citizens Service Association” in Ontario changed its name and became the John Howard Society of Ontario. Most other provinces formed John Howard Societies between 1947 and 1960. In February 1962 the John Howard Society of Canada was formed when all provinces, except Quebec, ratified a constitution. Quebec joined the John Howard Society in 1980. The Northwest Territories joined in 1994. The John Howard Society fills an important role in public education, community service and in pressing for reform in the criminal justice area. Currently there are branches and offices in over 60 communities across Canada, provincial offices in all 10 provinces and the Northwest Territories and a national office in Kingston, Ontario – within driving distance of 10 federal penitentiaries. Today, the John Howard Society of Canada is a federation of provincial and local societies comprised of people whose mission is “safe, effective and humane responses to the causes and consequences of crime.” Our goal is to understand and respond to problems of crime; to work with people who have come into conflict with the law; to review, evaluate and advocate for changes in the criminal justice process; and to engage in public education on matters involving prison conditions, criminal law and its application. Direct service to individuals is delivered by local branches and affiliates. The original focus of the founders of the John Howard Society was helping men released from prison. While aftercare continues to be a core service to this day, the activities of local Societies have expanded over the years. The services now include working with men in correctional facilities both federal and provincial, with people in community correctional programs, with young offenders both in custody and in the community and, most recently, with people defined as being “at risk” of involvement in criminal activity. Generally, the provincial/territorial Societies take primary responsibility for reform and community education activities and provide administrative support to the branches and affiliates. Activities such as communications (for example, compiling, publishing and distributing “A Directory of John Howard Programs across Canada”) and research on federal legislation and trends in penology tend to be done by the national Society. The John Howard Society depends on public involvement. All levels of the organization – from local to national – are governed by voluntary Boards of Directors. Volunteers are extensively involved in the direct service work of the Society. Many also support the work of the John Howard Society through donations. Branches and affiliates provide a wide range of services and programs to young offenders including education for youth at the primary prevention level, training and employment services for youth, counseling (some specific to problems such as drug and alcohol abuse and sexual offending), literacy and/or life skills programs for youth, supervision of young offender Community Service Orders, young offender Victim Offender Reconciliation/Restitution programs, young offender Attendance Centre programmes, and residential programs. At the provincial/territorial and national levels, activities have included providing testimony in a professional capacity at young offender transfer hearings, preparing community education bulletins, position papers and briefs related to the issues of youth crime and young offenders and working with a coalition of organizations and individuals concerned about the welfare of children who may be at risk of coming into conflict with the law.
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