Forensic & Trauma Support for Justice-Involved Youth in Ottawa
When a young person becomes involved in the justice system, it is rarely the whole story.
Many youth who are struggling with behaviour, legal involvement, or risky choices have also experienced significant stress, adversity, trauma, marginalization, racism, mental health concerns, learning difficulties, or disruptions in important relationships. Often, those concerns have not been fully understood or addressed.
At OCFR, we provide trauma-informed, developmentally informed assessment and treatment for justice-involved youth and their families. We work to better understand what is driving the behaviour, what supports are needed, and how to move toward safer, healthier, and more hopeful outcomes.
You Don’t Need to Have It All Figured Out Before Reaching Out
Families, caregivers, lawyers, probation staff, and other professionals often contact us when a young person is struggling, but the full picture is still unclear.
You may be:
- worried about a youth’s behaviour, choices, or legal involvement
- trying to understand whether trauma, mental health, learning difficulties, or attachment disruptions are part of the picture
- looking for a more complete assessment to guide treatment or planning
- seeking therapy that can meaningfully engage a young person who may be reluctant, guarded, or court-mandated
- trying to support a youth while also managing risk, stress, and uncertainty
You do not need to have a full picture before contacting us. Part of our role is helping clarify what is going on, what needs to be addressed, and what kind of support may be most helpful next.
How We Help
We provide trauma-informed, evidence-based services for youth involved in the justice system and, where appropriate, the families and professionals supporting them. Our work focuses on understanding the factors contributing to a young person’s difficulties, identifying strengths as well as risks, and helping create a path forward that supports safety, accountability, regulation, and healthier involvement in everyday life.
Assessment Services When You Need More Clarity
Assessment can help when there are questions about risk, trauma, mental health, learning, development, or treatment planning.
We offer a range of services for justice-involved youth, to support better understanding, more targeted intervention, and clearer planning across systems, including:
- Section 34 risk/need assessments for general and sexual reoffending
- trauma-informed psychodiagnostic assessment
- trauma-informed psychoeducational assessment
- trauma-informed comprehensive psychological assessment
Therapy and Treatment for Justice-Involved Youth
Engaging youth in therapy is not always straightforward — especially when services are court-mandated, trust is low, or the young person has had a lot of difficult experiences with adults or systems.
Our team provides evidence-based treatment for youth who have been charged with a range of offences, including concerning sexual behaviours, before or after sentencing and as part of probation-related conditions when appropriate.
Treatment is focused on addressing underlying needs, reducing criminogenic risk factors, and supporting stronger involvement in prosocial areas of life. Depending on the youth’s needs, therapy may also involve work around trauma, emotional regulation, relationships, accountability, coping, and day-to-day functioning.
Where helpful and appropriate, families and caregivers may also be included as part of the support process.
Our Approach
We know that many youth involved in the justice system have complex histories and are not always easy to engage in traditional services. Our approach is designed to meet young people where they are while still holding clear goals around safety, accountability, and change. Our work is trauma-informed, relational, and grounded in an understanding of development, attachment, the nervous system, and the impact of adversity on behaviour.
Consultation and Expert Support for Professionals
In addition to assessment and treatment, we also provide:
- Expert witness testimony related to attachment, trauma, and child and youth development
- Trauma-informed program consultation to youth justice facilities and their staff
If you are looking for assessment, treatment, or consultation related to a justice-involved youth, we would be glad to help you take the next step.