By: Jason Taylor

As a Harm Reduction Coordinator, I come into contact, on a regular basis, with individuals involved in criminal or socially undesirable behavior.  To help clarify this, it is necessary for me to provide a brief understanding of Harm Reduction practices, programs and philosophies.

Harm reduction is generally understood to be any program or policy designed to minimize the harmful social, economic, and health consequences of risky behavior, for individuals and communities.  Such risky behaviors are often typified as injection drug use (IDU), inhalation drug use, unsafe sexual practices, etc.  These behaviors are risky for a number of reasons, but the primary focus is often on the increased risk of transmission of blood borne pathogens, such as, HIV, Hep C and Hep B among users and the general public.  As well, these types of behavior are complex and are often accompanied by other overlapping socially undesirable activities.  With this in mind, it must be noted that there are a host of social factors related to high risk behaviors which must be acknowledged.  In much the same way that Crime Prevention strategies acknowledge and attempt to address some of the root issues which lead individuals into criminal activity, Harm Reduction programs see addictions and high risk behavior as symptomatic of larger issues.  Harm reduction programs operate pragmatically on the understanding that individuals are not always in a place where they are able or willing to cease partaking in risky behaviors, but that, in spite of their current lifestyles, they have a right to health care, safety and respect.

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Filed under Community Crime Prevention, Education & Awareness, Portals for Discovery

By: Steve Woolrich

Ted Danson stars in Knights of the South Bronx

So what does a game of chess have to do with Crime Prevention?  Better yet, what’s Crime Prevention through Social Development (CPSD)?  Well, according to the National Crime Prevention Centre (NCPC) CPSD is an approach to preventing crime and victimization that recognizes the complex social, economic, and cultural processes that contribute to crime and victimization.  CPSD seeks to strengthen the “bridge” between criminal justice policies and programs and the safe, secure, and pro-social development of individuals, families, and communities.

When we consider the various risk factors that many of our children are exposed to its clear to see how the potential for criminal behavior can develop.  Unfortunately, many of these kids are lost in the cracks especially those in poor socioeconomic conditions.  There are promising solutions we can all explore but its all about taking action and extending a hand to those who need our help.  Is there anyone more deserving than a child?

Every once in a while my faith is restored in the film industry and I discover a great movie.  The Knights of the South Bronx is outstanding!  In fact, its a “keeper”, one of those movies you want for your collection.  It’s not full of gloom and doom, violence, course language and sexual content!  It’s about one man determined to make a difference.  I could not help thinking that this story “oozes” with CPSD and proves how even a game of chess can change a child’s life.  

I learned the game as a youngster and still play every now and then.  I can certainly see how this group of students was drawn to the game and how it represents life.  I won’t spoil it for any of you but I will close on this note.  The pawn is defined as one of the chessmen of least value having the power to move only forward, ordinarily one square at a time, to capture only diagonally forward, and be promoted to any piece except king upon reaching the eighth rank.  I think many children often underestimate themselves, possibly seeing themselves as that “pawn” or chess piece with the least value.  Life is no game, but like the pawn, is it not up to each and every one of us to help our children move forward in life?

Filed under Community Crime Prevention, Portals for Discovery