Re: Funding Cuts - Post 4
By now, you’ll likely have a picture of the dynamics of our work in the courts and the importance of our role. In the letters below, you’ll see how much work is done by our team before and after someone appears before the Judge. Who will do that work without us there?
I have been a volunteer with Elizabeth Fry Society for 4 years (since December 2016). I started volunteering once a week, outside of the Child Welfare and Youth Court rooms. Through Elizabeth Fry Society, I have been provided training and opportunities to understand the different organizations available locally, this increased knowledge has helped me personally and professionally as I have worked with many different age groups throughout my career.
I have always been proud to say that I volunteer with such a wonderful organization as Elizabeth Fry Society. This organization has existed for several decades and helped so many youth and adult females, as they go through the Justice System. When I first started volunteering, I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I did understand was that all of us need to be given second chances, especially the youth who have come from not positive nor stable environments. Some commit crimes perhaps from boredom, perhaps from hurts and pains in their past. As a CAFFY Mentor I can provide that stable positive influence in their lives, talk with them in levels they can relate to more, and give them someone whom they can trust, and know is on their side, despite the poor choices they may have made in their past.
Shortly after volunteering in the Court House, I became a volunteer as a CAFFY Mentor (Court Assistant for Female Youth). I can recall a mentee, a young girl at the age of 14, who was given extrajudicial measures to redeem herself, complete community service in the hopes her charges would be dropped. Upon speaking with her and her mother, one could assume that her family life was not as stable as one could hope for. She did have some positive influences in her life, but was unsure how to access these resources.
E-fry assigned her community service hours to me. I was challenged into finding ways she could give back to her community and learn some value in her life. She would not be able to volunteer her time in any organization since she was only 14. I realized that I needed to create a support system where she could feel valued, and give back to her community within the community she was already in. The Principal of her school and 4 teachers stepped up to help out. She spent early mornings and her free time helping to prep the different teacher’s classrooms every day, the time spent would be recorded and reported back to me until the 15 hours was completed.
With the help of her school teachers and Principal, we were successful in creating a positive environment for this young girl to feel valued, give back and create lasting relationships. When her service requirements were completed, she continued to give her time to help the teachers. I have no doubt that the supportive environment that developed from this community service, continued into her High school years as well. All of this inspired her mother to make a change, receive counselling needed, to create a better home life for her and her daughter.
Unfortunately, not all of my cases have been successful. I often think of those girls whom I could not reach in time, those whom made the ultimate choice to not accept the help that was given to them…
I grew up having a privileged life, with a supportive and safe family system. Having the realization that not everyone has the same upbringing, and this was not their fault. I wanted to have a better understanding of how the system breaks down, and where we as a society can help those that fall through the cracks. Their stories are real, the life they live is also real, and it’s very different than mine. This experience has challenged my prejudices and stereotypical thoughts and views, and replaced them with compassion, empathy and realization of real world life.
CAFFY Mentoring program through Elizabeth Fry Society is an instrument in creating second chances for youth females who have been dealt bad hands in life. For a young girl, her brain has not fully developed, nor does she fully understand the magnitude of her offences. If it wasn’t for these programs, too many youth girls would suffer the consequence of their poor choices, without a chance of redemption before they become adults.
Written By CAFFY Mentor, Arlene
December 9, 2020
There are no two days that are ever alike as a Court worker for the Elizabeth Fry Society of Northern Alberta. It is pretty safe to say that I love my job, the people I work with and the clients I serve. It is always interesting and I learn something new every day from my colleagues.
My first day on the job, one of my first client’s decided to tell me that he wanted to blow up the courthouse. Obviously he was in mental distress. I triaged his situation with the Sherriff's and I was able to determine who his psychiatrist was, and that he had been diagnosed with PTSD, from what the client shared with me. An ambulance was called and took him to the Psychiatric unit at the hospital.
My colleagues and I at the court house work very closely as a team so that matters within court remain organized, cohesive and timely. There are moments that require extreme tact, compassion, kindness and emotional intelligence.
Often people with mental health issues, addictions, domestic violence issues, and a variety of other issues do not respond well to police officers in uniforms, as they feel overwhelmed and intimidated sometimes.
Elizabeth Fry court workers are recognized and acknowledged as an important part of the team. At court I provide assistance to all clients. Court workers pre-screen clients before they are interviewed by Duty Counsel and enter the court room. Sometimes Duty Counsel asks me to come in to the interview room as a witness or to explain situations to clients in a simplified, non-intimidating manner. I explain court procedures to clients. Sometimes clients are intimidated and overwhelmed by the justice system, which they don’t understand. I reassure clients who are dealing with anxiety. I triage people if they are in mental or physical pain. Above all, I try to be fair, non -judgmental, tactful and extremely diplomatic.
Duty Counsel relies heavily on me to act as a support advocate and liason between clients and Legal Aid. Currently Legal Aid does not have any assistants in the court, but I am there to assist everybody in the best way that I can so that I can be an asset to the court. I also provide referrals and information to clients and community partners. When some clients come in to court they are extremely distraught, and it takes exceptional people skills to de-escalate situations for some individuals. We are advocates for all. We do not judge anybody. Our role is not to judge. Our role is to support.
On Thursday November 26, 2020, I dealt with a client who had been shot. He attended court with the bullet lodged in him. He was in excrutiating pain, and he was scheduled for surgery that afternoon at 1 p.m. There were several people ahead of him. I advocated on this client’s behalf to get him out of court as quickly as possible, as he did not want to miss his scheduled surgery.
Being a court worker frees up the Duty Counsel and Sheriffs to focus on their specific jobs because they do not have the time to assist clients in crisis. There is no doubt in my mind, as a professional court worker, it requires a great deal of skill, tact, patience, excellent people skills and de-escalation skills. A court worker must have excellent insight in to human behaviour. Without court workers the court room would be a chaotic, hot mess filled with anxiety, potential violence, confusion and temper tantrums.
Court workers successfully de-escalate clients before they enter the court room, and we take down the fear and anxiety levels by explaining things to them in simple layman terms. Behind the scenes, we help court run more efficiently and timely. By the time clients actually are in front of the judge a lot of work has been invested in to the client so that things run smoothly in front of the judge. Court workers work their magic behind the scenes. Without court workers the court would be running late in to the evening. Court workers are valuable because of our unique talents and skill sets.
Court workers are professional, ethical people who give respect to all people, regardless of their station in life, age, gender, sexual orientation, culture, religion, or disability. We are a huge part of helping the wheel of justice turn. We have the time to dedicate to advocacy which helps the courts to remain open during Covid, and to ensure that justice is fairly and equally served for all people. In fact, in the Red Deer Court pre-screening people before they enter has been put in to our capable hands. We ensure that only a certain amount of people go in the court room at any given time. In fact, Chief Justice Hunter explicitly asked for Elizabeth Fry’s assistance in maintaining order within the court room by monitoring the back end. I am told daily how much I am appreciated for what I do. Without court workers the Court house would be in complete chaos and disorganization. I am proud to be a court worker.
Kimberley (Staff)