PACT co-founder David Lockett (L), Director of PACT Program Development Ben Marshall (C) and Belleville Life Coach Will Manos (R) re-launch the program at the Quinte Consolidated courthouse with the aim of keeping young offenders from becoming habitual offenders. (Photo: Nicole Kleinsteuber / Quinte News)
An early prevention program aimed at transforming life choices for high risk repeat youth offenders is being re-integrated back into the Quinte area.
The Pact Urban Peace Program, touted as having a 68 percent success rate in helping local youth between the ages of 14 and 19 in serious and repeat conflict with the law, was discontinued last year due to a funding shortfall.
On Thursday, law officials, lawyers, police officers and government officials gathered at the Quinte Consolidated courthouse for the re-launch celebrating PACT, the Parrott Foundation and five Rotary Clubs (Belleville, Trenton, Campbellford, Picton, and Quinte Sunrise) coming together and donating $90,000 to see the program thrive for another three years.
Those accepted into the program will be matched with local Life Coach Will Manos. He says every youth he helps is an individual and sometimes it’s hard to quantify what moving forward looks like because it’s different for everyone.
Co-founder of Pact David Locket says when they look at overall crime there is a huge relationship between home environment and parenting. He adds if habitual offenders are not caught early it can cost society millions of dollars.
He says the community will see the benefits of offering this program to youth for a year and a half but there is still much more work to do.
Justice Elaine Deluzio says Quinte is a high needs community with a lot of youth so she is pleased to see PACT make a comeback.
The program is still looking for donations to continue the program past the next three years. For more information or to donate visit www.pactprogram.ca
