Liberty for Youth, whose goals reflect the current trend toward Restorative Justice, is comprised of a group of over 80 volunteers dedicated to the safety and well-being of the community through the active engagement of its youth. Liberty is not about ignoring challenges. Through several interactive outreach initiatives, Liberty seeks to solicit the participation of those involved with substance abuse, crime, gangs, the Youth Justice System and the resulting difficulties that each of these brings forth.

This shift toward "extrajudicial measures" is further illustrated by the closure of at least three custody homes in the Hamilton area in the past 2 years. These happenings, while in keeping with the new legislative mandates, have also resulted in a greater need for diversionary efforts such as those offered through Liberty's programs. While the community wide efforts have been realized at a much slower pace than the closures themselves, Liberty is poised and ready to fill the resulting gaps with effective intervention, programming and counselling.

Specific youth justice needs involve, among other things, engaging youth criminal activity and the community's perception that criminal behavior occurs along racial lines. This indicates a need not only for diversionary measures that directly engage the youth but also the development of skills necessary to cope with “accusatory” language that appears oppressive in nature. It is thought that without intervention, this alone, further aggravates at risk youth toward the possibility of recidivism.

The second phase of Liberty's Reintegration Strategy involves the establishment of Refuge Place. As this takes hold, Liberty will see itself poised to offer greater support to the community by offering those most vulnerable a safe, stable and supportive environment by which reintegration into the community can take hold.

As support for Liberty continues to expand, greater and greater resources for those most in need will develop. Without committed staff, volunteers and donors, Liberty for Youth would not be the instrument of change that it has become.