Our Mission

Effective, just, and humane responses to crime and its causes.

About John Howard Society of Ontario

Since 1929, the John Howard Society has been dedicated to a truly effective criminal justice system, one that fosters genuinely safer communities. We help achieve that goal in a variety of ways and with a suite of programs and activities that we operate on a community-by-community basis. For example, we provide programs that focus on crime prevention, work with youth and adults at-risk of becoming involved or are involved with the justice system, reintegration services as well as restorative justice. Research and policy as well as program development and evaluation have been an integral part of our work, having founded our Centre of Research, Policy & Program Development in 2003. The Centre is the only organization of its kind in Ontario; it facilitates interdisciplinary innovation by combining partnerships with front-line service providers AND academically qualified researchers and analysts.

Each research project promotes evidence-based responses to crime and enhances services that help people thrive. Past projects include: bail, mental health, pretrial detention, unemployment, police records, homelessness and reintegration. Our non-partisan research is made readily accessible through our public education work, and has tangible impacts on policy-making in Ontario. Your support is not only greatly appreciated, it is essential to the continuation of our work which is making communities safer and healthier.