Black Youth Justice Program

Level’s Black Youth Justice Program (BYJP) is an innovative justice education and mentorship program for Black youth aged 11 - 18.

Increases students' knowledge of the legal system and legal issues facing Black youth in Canada

Builds positive relations between Black youth and the legal sector

Imparts important leadership and analytical skills

Enhances accessibility to the Canadian legal system through legal education and mentorship

Sparks interest in careers in the justice sector

Celebrates Black-Canadian heritage, cultures, narratives, and legal systems

About the Program

The Black Youth Justice Program (BYJP) focuses on producing culturally-relevant justice education programming targeted towards Black youth aged 11-18 in Canada.

How does the program work?

  • BYJP focuses on culturally-relevant programming for Black youth aged 11-18 years in Canada

  • BYJP runs 7 to 14 one-hour justice education sessions, delivered across Canada

  • BYJP administers justice-based activities, which include mock trials, sentencing circles, and field trips to increase students’ knowledge and understanding of the Canadian justice system as well as to reimagine a new justice system that serves the diverse needs of Canadians

  • BYJP includes mentorship by Black identifying lawyers, law students, and judges

  • BYJP enhances students' leadership, critical thinking skills, socialization, and cultural pride

  • BYJP is delivered by Black identifying program facilitators who work or study within the legal field

Black youth are disproportionately represented in every aspect of the Canadian criminal justice system. For instance, the rate of incarceration of Black Canadians is approximately three times their proportion of the general Canadian population. In addition to being overrepresented at every stage of the justice system, Black people are also underrepresented in administering justice. The Law Society of Ontario is the largest self-governing legal body in Canada with more than 55,000 lawyers and 9,000 paralegals as members. Only 29.3% of Ontario’s lawyers in 2018 identified as racialized. This points to a need for preventative justice programming that tackles the overrepresentation of Black youth in the justice system and the underrepresentation of Black people in administering justice.

Program Rationale

Meet the Program Support

BYJP Updates

Get Involved.

Do you want to bring this program to your community? Are you interested in volunteering or facilitating with this program?