Youth Section
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Richmond RCMP Youth Section is a specialized unit consisting of eight (8) Constables and one (1) Corporal. Each member of the section is carefully selected from a group of interested applicants and remain with the section for a minimum of 2 years.
The Youth Section balances it’s time between education and enforcement. Youth officers are assigned to high schools and deal with files involving students at school during school hours, or to/from school. They are also often called to assist with investigations involving youth that occur outside of school hours.
On the enforcement side, Youth officers work within the parameters of the Youth Criminal Justice Act to hold Youth accountable for their actions. Young people that are caught breaking the law can be referred to the Richmond RCMP Youth Intervention Program (YIP), where they receive clinical counseling, or Restorative Justice , where they participate in a Community Forum. Repeat offenders, or more serious offences are referred to Crown Counsel with charge recommendations.
On the education side, Youth officers teach D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) to every grade 5 student in Richmond. Youth officers are also available to make presentations to students on a variety of topics, including Policing, Law, Internet Safety, Gangs, Drugs, etc.
The Youth Section is also very involved in many proactive Richmond RCMP programs, like Positive Ticketing (finding kids doing something right), Adopt-a-School (each elementary school is assigned a police officer who visits regularly), and our OnSide Program (police officers taking kids to a professional sporting event). These programs all work to foster opportunities for positive contact with Richmond youth.
