Youth Justice Services (YJS) Service Framework

The Youth Justice Services Division is pleased to announce the release of the Youth Justice Services (YJS) Service Framework (PDF, 14MB). The Framework is now complete, and its release is a significant milestone in the collective effort to strengthen YJS for justice‑involved youth and their families. 

A Service Framework is meant to be a visionary and enduring, purpose-driven and evidence informed. It serves as a long-term guide, a statement of mandate, and provides YJS a common language and structure to define and deliver services.

The Framework is the result of engagement with partners and staff that identified opportunities to enhance justice services for youth, families and communities in BC. In addition to being informed by extensive engagement with staff, partners, communities, youth, and families, YJS conducted reviews of academic literature, considered partner reports and recommendations, and aligned with existing justice strategies.

The Framework reflects ongoing government commitments, including:

• Advancing reconciliation
• Responding to overrepresentation of Indigenous and racialized youth
• Delivering culturally grounded services
• Expanding trauma-informed practice
• Supporting successful transitions for youth

Service Framework Implementation

The release of the YJS Framework marks a transition from planning for change to making change.  Its release is the beginning of the process of implementing the Framework into YJS and embedding it into the division’s daily practice.

We invite you to read the Framework and share it with your networks. Your engagement helps ensure the Framework is widely understood and embedded across YJS and the youth justice system. For more information, please see the YJS Service Framework FAQs (PDF, 150KB). YJS is approaching implementation deliberately, recognizing that real change happens through consistent alignment and intentional action over time.

Throughout this process, YJS will continue to identify key priorities requiring change and work with staff, service providers, partners, youth, families, and communities to implement the Framework and improve youth justice services in BC.

Learn more here

Youth Justice Services Division
Youth Justice Services (YJS) Service Framework (PDF, 14MB)
YJS Service Framework FAQs (PDF, 150KB)