Minister of Justice National Youth Justice Policing Award

Established in 2000, the Minister of Justice National Youth Justice Policing Award is presented in collaboration with the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and the Canadian Police Association. The award recognizes police-led initiatives that use innovative approaches or promising practices that go beyond the formal court system when dealing with youth who come in contact with the criminal justice system. The award celebrates innovative policing and creative responses to youth crime.

Eligibility

Individual or teams of police officers and others involved in police-led initiatives that apply Youth Criminal Justice Act principles in innovative and creative ways when working with youth who come in contact with the law, are eligible for this award.

Consideration will be given to projects that respond to the needs of, or display sensitivity towards, Indigenous youth, Black youth, or any other vulnerable youth in the youth criminal justice system.

Nomination criteria

Nominations are accepted for initiatives active or started between January 1 and December 31, 2024.

Anyone living in Canada may nominate candidates for the award, including police services, community groups, and justice officials. Individual police officers may nominate themselves or their colleagues.

Nomination process

To nominate a candidate or team, complete and submit the nomination form to the email address below. Only one form is required if you are nominating a team.

Nominations must be accompanied by a signed letter from the Chief of Police, Director or Commanding Officer of the agency concerned.

You may also include supporting material, such as news articles, citations, letters of appreciation, or photographs with your nomination form.

Please note: If the award winner is from Québec, additional information may be required.

By email (preferred)

prix.police.award@justice.gc.ca

By mail (if necessary)

Minister of Justice National Youth Justice Policing Award
Department of Justice Canada
Youth Criminal Justice Division
284 Wellington Street, 5^th floor
Ottawa, ON K1A 0H8

Deadline for nominations

The deadline for nominations is July 17, 2025, at 11:59pm Pacific Standard Time.

Recipient selection

The recipient is selected by a committee of representatives from the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, the Canadian Police Association and the Department of Justice Canada.

Presentation

The award is presented in alternative years at the Canadian Police Association Biennial Meeting and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Annual Summit. This year the award ceremony will be held at the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Annual Conference from August 10 to 12, 2025, in Victoria, British Columbia.

Award

The recipient(s) receives a certificate of recognition.

In addition, $10,000 in funding is presented in the name of the recipient(s) to the successful police service or name of a community organization in the case of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police or other federal entity.

The Department of Justice Canada also covers some of the expenses of 1 representative from the winning initiative to travel to the award ceremony.

Previous Winners

The Minister of Justice National Youth Justice Policing Award was established in 2000. Here are the previous award recipients: