NCJ Number
185883
Journal
Justice Report Volume: 15 Issue: 2 Dated: 2000 Pages: 16-18
Editor(s)
Gaston St-Jean
Date Published
2000
Length
3 pages
Annotation
The Community Forum Program of the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) is making an important contribution to citizen outreach and public education.
Abstract
The typical community forum is a 1-day event where expert guest speakers, such as the warden of a local penitentiary, politicians involved in criminal justice, an offender on parole, and members of social agencies, meet to discuss a topic with local citizens. While the audience normally includes persons who work in the criminal justice system, a forum is really directed at an audience that does not know a lot about corrections but is interested in learning more. The goal of the Community Forum Program is to reduce public misconceptions and provide information on how Federal corrections contributes to public safety. Since the program was launched in 1997, 29 forums have been held across Canada. The CSC solicits forum proposals from non-governmental and volunteer organizations involved in corrections, and proposals are approved based on factors including geographic location, capacity of the organization to host a forum, potential community partners, and proximity to a CSC facility. Forums have proven to be effective in educating citizens about corrections.