Operation Springboard

Springboard's Community Work Program is a two-year pilot project funded by the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services. It is currently expanding to locations across Ontario, thanks to the valuable contributions of numerous agency and community partners.

The Program arranges supervised placements where offenders can participate in community work projects as an alternative to serving an intermittent sentence (usually on weekends) in an institution.

Not every offender is eligible: to be selected an offender must volunteer and be assessed as "low risk." The program gives selected offenders a chance to do productive work instead of spending idle time in custody, and to give back to the community as a way of making amends for an offence.

Offender comments on the program:

“...better program than sitting in jail.”
“I saw people in more need. I appreciated what I had.”
“An eye-opening experience...”
“...quite an experience helping the poor.”
“...good program that does a lot for the community...”

Contact the Community Work Program:

976 College Street
Toronto, Ontario
M6H 1A5
Phone: 416-597-8522
Fax: 416-597-9844

Don Cooley, Manager of Community Justice and Diversion Programs, Ext. 801
Wanda McPherson, Supervisor, Ext. 802

Details of this program are posted on the Ministry's website as follows:

Strategy Targets Greater Community Safety Through Rehabilitation Of Offenders

QUEEN'S PARK, May 4 /CNW/ - Offenders serving weekend sentences will be put to work on local improvement projects under a new program designed to improve community safety and rehabilitate offenders, Community Safety and Correctional Services Minister Monte Kwinter announced today.

"This approach makes eligible offenders take responsibility for their actions and pay back the community," said Kwinter. "By helping to rehabilitate offenders through supervised, community-based work programs, we are working to make our communities safer."

At present, offenders serving intermittent sentences remain free in the community Monday to Friday and spend weekends in jail. A typical day in jail is currently spent watching television, reading, playing cards or talking on the phone.

Under the program, offenders who meet certain strict criteria can now perform not-for-profit community work, as an alternative to spending weekends in jail. Work projects will focus on environmental clean up, the maintenance and repair of not-for-profit community facilities and projects that assist seniors and persons with disabilities.

The Province has signed an agreement with Operation Springboard to develop and supervise local community work projects for selected offenders who are serving their sentences on weekends. This agency is nationally recognized and has experience delivering programs for offenders in numerous jurisdictions.

"We are delighted to work with the government on this initiative," said Marg Stanowski, executive director, Operation Springboard. "Community groups benefit from having a labour pool to help complete community projects, and offenders gain a sense of responsibility that may assist them in rehabilitation. This is a major improvement over spending weekends idling away in jail."

Paul Hamelin, president of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, said the program is good for public safety. "The courts have deemed it appropriate that these offenders should remain in their communities during the week and repay their debt to society on weekends," he said. "Allowing them to take responsibility for their own actions in their own community may help offenders to rebuild ties to their community."

"Mothers Against Drunk Driving is pleased to support this program," said Andrew Murie, chief executive officer of MADD Canada. It promises to provide opportunities for offenders who are substance abusers to get the treatment they need and thus reduce the likelihood that they will re-offend. This is one sure way to help keep our streets and communities safe."