Welcome to John Howard Society of Thunder Bay and District
Services
Re-Integration Services:
The Re-Integration Program works closely with men who have come in conflict with the law. This program is designed to help individuals successfully re-integrate back into the community. The process of re-integration consists of responding to the needs of clients and to coordinate required services. It also consists of providing clients with social service connections needed to obtain Government Identification, work with Ontario Works, access Employment Services, access Counselling, access Education, access Treatment, etc.
To achieve this, staff visits both the Thunder Bay Correctional Centre and Thunder Bay District Jail to provide discharge services and assist with discharge planning. The Re-Integration Coordinator works with correctional staff and the offender to create a plan that will hopefully make the transition from institution to community smooth, safe and successful. During visits to either institution intakes for individuals that wish to reside and participate in re-integration services at the John Howard Society are completed.
The programming currently offered at JHS includes the following:
Life Skills Series - This series was designed to prepare individuals for living in the community. It provides individuals with skills that may help them succeed in society. There is a series available for men and a series for women.
Core Programming - Right now there are two core programs running at JHS:
Substance Use
This program is designed to help individuals decide if their substance use is creating problems in their lives. This program is designed in an educational format and was created to help individuals decide if they need to get help for their substance use.
Anger Management
This program is designed to help introduce individuals to concepts involved in anger management. Through this program it is the hoped that individuals will be motivated to seek treatment or further help if necessary. This program is also designed in an educational format.
In this program we look at different issues surrounding anger management.
Residential Services:
The John Howard Society of Thunder Bay offers transitional housing to an average of 48 individuals a month. They comprise of individuals released from the District Jail, the Thunder Bay Correctional Centre, the Thunder Bay Youth Centre, Bail Court and those needing supportive low income housing. While living in our facility they are required to abide by strict rules of residency and participate in programming tailored to address their needs.
Residents participate in a breakfast program which provides a hot breakfast 5 days a week. The breakfast program is open to community members and our residents cook, clean and serve the breakfast.
Discharge kits are supplied to individuals coming from correctional facilities, which contain items such as personal hygiene supplies, towels, shavers etc.
Every Friday food packs are distributed to residents needing food over the weekend.
Individuals upon discharge from the correctional system, who stay at our residence, are seen by our Re-Integration Coordinator. The Re-Integration Coordinator facilitates discharge planning, jail visitation, case management assessment, development of a transitional re-integration plan, counselling and programming.
Native Inmate Liaison Services
Native Inmate Liaison Services provide direct support to inmates at the Thunder Bay Jail and the Thunder Bay Correctional Services. Cultural and spiritual services are provided on site to promote healing and wellness.
Turning Full Circle Program
The Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services has stated its commitment to providing Core Programs to higher risk, higher need offenders. One are of significant importance is that of rehabilitative programming for Aboriginal offenders. In Ontario, Aboriginal offenders are over-represented in the correctional system relative to their provincial population and aboriginal recidivism rates are higher than that of their non-Aboriginal counterparts. Few Aboriginal offenders respond to mainstream correctional intervention programs and little or no change occurs between periods of correctional supervision. In order to address these issues, the Ministry has developed and contracted with Aboriginal program developers to provide several programs that address the unique needs of Aboriginal men in conflict with the law. Turning Full Circle is one of these programs that have been developed. The John Howard Society provides program facilitation on-site at the Thunder Bay Correctional Centre.
Pardon Applications
What Are The Pardon Services At The John Howard Society?
- Helping you through the process of applying to seal your criminal record by obtaining a Canadian Pardon
- A fee of $75 is charged (A sliding scale is used if income is less than $20,000 per year)
- If receiving Social Assistance, Ontario Works can assist with fee for services
What Are The Costs To The Applicant?
The pardon process requires additional costs to be incurred by the applicant. These include:
- Fingerprinting by either the local police service, RCMP or the Ontario Provincial Police. The cost is between $25 - $30 Local police records check, $40 fee
- Criminal records check to RCMP Ottawa Canada, $25 fee
- Certificate of conviction from the court, to verify time frame for applying for a pardon, $3.50 fee
- Pardon application processing fee paid to the Receiver General of Canada, $50 fee
Who can apply for a pardon?
Adult Criminal Records
Anyone with a criminal conviction in Canada as an adult 18 years or older after waiting three years on a summary conviction or five years on an indictable conviction following sentence completion.
Youth Criminal Records
Youth charged under the Youth Criminal Justice Act who were 12 to 17 years old need not apply for a pardon unless their youth record was maintained due to receiving an adult criminal record. In this case, the waiting period is the same as above; three to five years after all of the sentences have been satisfied.
