training standards were increased for probation
officers in March 1995, The Branch adopted a
minimum training standard of 42 hours in core
coutses for probation officers carrying a generic
caseload. Por probation officers working as
specialists with youth and/or adult sex
offenders, another 20 hours were required.

The first mentally disordered offender course
was offered in 1990, Training was also offered
for probation officers supervising spousal
assault offenders. While this initial training
followed the introduction of VAWIR policy
(violence against women in relationships),
training for family violence was expanded in
1996,

Concurrent with specialization of family justice
setvices in the mid-1990s, the Corrections
Academy moved from a generic training model
to a specialized model for training family justice
counsellors and probation officers. Following
enactment of the Family Relations Act in 1978,
the academy trained every probation officer
recruit to function in both criminal and family
law areas. Commencing in 1982, all existing
probation officers were trained as family court
counsellors. In 1995, the increasing complexity
and knowledge required to perform these roles
led to the separation of training into two
programs.

Candidates were then selected based on their
background and interest for either family justice
setvices or probation. The implication of this
split was that individuals could no longer work
in a generic role and were posted to either
family or probation workloads.

A similar specialized model was developed for
youth probation and custody in 1997, folowing
the transfer of youth services to the Ministry
for Children and Families. This specialized
training required a significant organizational

shift because the Corrections Academy had to
market and develop each separate functional
area (i.e. adult and youth corrections, family
justice services).

New Justice Institute campus opens

Since its beginning in 1978, the Justice Institute
fostered a reputation for quality training in
corrections, fire, paramedic, police and the
provincial emergency program. With the
support of the major client groups, the Ministry
of Advanced Education provided funding for a
new facility.

The new campus for the Justice Institute
officially opened on June 23, 1995, This facility
replaced the antiquated and outgrown
Vancouver site of the Justice Institute at Jericho
Beach.

Built in New Westminster at a cost of $34
million, the design of the new campus was
based on input from staff. This measure was
taken to ensure the facility met the institute’s
unique training needs. Features included:

» Apartment with a one-way mirror for viewing
domestic disputes;

» Gymnasium that could be divided to
accommodate physical training for both
corrections and the police; and a

» Mock courtroom.

In addition to infrastructure support from the
Ministry of Skills, Training and Labour,
operational funding was obtained in each
division through contracts with the Ministries
of Attorney General, Health and Municipal
Affairs. Other contracts and student fees
provided additional revenue. This funding
structure required healthy working relationships
between the Justice Institute and its major
client groups.

The Era of Risk Management (1990-1997)

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