The John Howard Society has been committed to providing effective programs and services which assist in reducing crime and its causes for 47 years in Sault Ste. Marie. We use applied research, policy and program development to accomplish our mission. We strive to offer the most effective service possible to our clients and their families and contribute to the health, well-being and safety of communities.

Our experience and research informs us that longer prison sentences are not an effective method of rehabilitation, nor an effective way of reducing crime. As such, we support decreasing the over-reliance on incarceration and support increasing the use of community-based sanctions, gradual release and prevention focused social programs. We promote the provisions of adequate social supports, which reliably reduce rates of crime and victimization.

We have 15 professional staff, as well as volunteers and students within the program areas. Many services are open to all in the community including: youth and adults facing barriers to independent/healthy living, offenders, the unemployed and high risk individuals: by virtue of abuse/low education and/or no support system. To ensure a full service continuum, the John Howard Society has become heavily involved in partnerships with other organizations and expands those partnerships each year.