Youth Restorative Action Project, Edmonton, AB

YRAP formed in 2001 with a group of youth who were concerned that youth were often not equipped to act as advocates for their rights in the large systems in which they find themselves, such as the child welfare system, the education system, and the criminal justice system. YRAP was also heavily influenced by the ideas of restorative justice, a community-based approach in which those who have committed offenses are held accountable for harm that they have caused and those harmed are included, with the ultimate goal of reducing or reversing the harm that has been done as well as preventing re-offense. In 2003, the Youth Criminal Justice Act was enacted, allowing for members of the community to form Youth Justice Committees in order to address crimes in their communities differently than might take place in standard court.