The Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies (CAEFS) is an association of groups operating under the Elizabeth Fry Society banner, similar in many respects to the

John Howard Society The John Howard Society of Canada is a Canadian non-profit organization that seeks to develop understanding and effective responses to the problem of crime and prison reform. It is named after John Howard, a philanthropist and early English prison ...

. The Elizabeth Fry Society groups work on issues affecting women, girls and gender diverse people in the justice system. The societies take their name from

prison reform Prison reform is the attempt to improve conditions inside prisons, improve the effectiveness of a penal system, or implement alternatives to incarceration. It also focuses on ensuring the reinstatement of those whose lives are impacted by crimes. ...

Elizabeth Fry Elizabeth Fry (née Gurney; 21 May 1780 – 12 October 1845), sometimes referred to as Betsy Fry, was an English prison reformer, social reformer, philanthropist and Quaker. Fry was a major driving force behind new legislation to improve the tr ...

. The organization was started in 1969, with formal incorporation as a

non-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

occurring in 1978. They help women, girls and gender diverse people to re-integrate into society when they have been in prison or otherwise affected by the criminal justice system. They work independently from the government. The original Elizabeth Fry Society of Canada was founded in 1939 by Member of Parliament

Agnes Macphail Agnes Campbell MacPhail (March 24, 1890 – February 13, 1954) was a Canadian politician and the first woman elected to Canada's House of Commons. She served as a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1921 to 1940; from 1943 to 1945 and again from 1948 ...

. The current Executive Director of CAEFS is Emilie Coyle. The Elizabeth Fry Society has also assisted women and gender diverse people who face criminal proceedings. They have had intervenor status in a number of

Supreme Court of Canada The Supreme Court of Canada (SCC; french: Cour suprême du Canada, CSC) is the Supreme court, highest court in the Court system of Canada, judicial system of Canada. It comprises List of Justices of the Supreme Court of Canada, nine justices, wh ...

cases including

R v Ryan ''R v Ryan'' 013SCC 3 is a case concerning the availability of duress in the context of domestic violence. Background Nicole Doucet Ryan (now Nicole Doucet) alleged that she was subject to repeated abuse and torment by her husband, Michael Ryan. ...

, in which Nicole Patricia Ryan was arrested by the

Royal Canadian Mounted Police The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP; french: Gendarmerie royale du Canada; french: GRC, label=none), commonly known in English as the Mounties (and colloquially in French as ) is the federal police, federal and national police service of ...

after attempting to hire an undercover officer as a

hitman Contract killing is a form of murder or assassination in which one party hires another party to kill a targeted person or persons. It involves an illegal agreement which includes some form of payment, monetary or otherwise. Either party may be ...

to kill her husband. The RCMP were criticized by the Supreme Court for failing to protect Ryan from an abusive husband, however both the husband and the RCMP denied the reported abuse. The husband was not called to testify during the trial.

External links

CAEFS website
Non-profit organizations based in Ottawa Prison reform Women's organizations based in Canada Prisoner support 1939 establishments in Canada Organizations established in 1939 Advocacy groups in Canada {{Canada-org-stub

See also

External links