The Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) is a federal law in Canada that governs the criminal justice system as it relates to young people between the ages of 12 and 17. Under the YCJA, young people who are found guilty of a crime are generally not treated in the same way as adults, as the Act recognizes that young people are still developing and may be less culpable for their actions. Instead, the YCJA aims to hold young people accountable for their actions while also providing them with opportunities for rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
One of the main principles of the YCJA is that the punishment should fit the crime, and that the punishment should be proportionate to the severity of the offense. This means that the punishment should be appropriate for the age and maturity of the young person, as well as the nature of the offense.
Under the YCJA, there are several different types of punishments that may be imposed on young people who are found guilty of a crime. These include:
Extrajudicial measures: These are measures that are taken outside of the formal court process, and are often used for less serious offenses. Extrajudicial measures may include things like apologizing to the victim, completing community service, or participating in a restorative justice program.
Diversion programs: Diversion programs are alternatives to the traditional court process that allow young people to take responsibility for their actions and make amends without a criminal record. Diversion programs may include things like counseling, education, or rehabilitation services.
Custody and supervision: In some cases, a young person may be placed in custody or under supervision as part of their punishment. This may include being placed in a juvenile detention center, or being placed on probation with certain conditions that must be followed.
Restitution: Restitution involves requiring the young person to pay back the victim for any damages or losses that resulted from the crime. This may include paying for damages to property, or providing compensation to the victim for any injuries or other losses.
It is important to note that the YCJA emphasizes rehabilitation and reintegration over punishment. This means that the goal of any punishment under the Act should be to help the young person understand the harm that they have caused and to encourage them to make positive changes in their behavior. The Act also provides for a range of additional measures that may be taken to support young people as they work to turn their lives around, including education, counseling, and other support services.
Overall, the YCJA seeks to balance the need to hold young people accountable for their actions with the recognition that they are still developing and have the capacity to change. By providing a range of punishments and support services, the Act aims to help young people learn from their mistakes and become productive members of society.
Punishments for youth crime arenāt serious enough in Canada
Sentencing of Young Persons When a young person pleads guilty or is found guilty of a criminal offence, the youth court must determine the appropriate sentence. However, the sentence must still be proportionate to both the seriousness of the offence and the degree of responsibility of the young person. Finally, when considering whether to sentence a young person to serve a period of time in a youth custody facility, a judge must first consider all available options other than custody that are reasonable in the circumstances, paying particular attention to the circumstances of aboriginal young persons. The harm done to victims must be considered by the Court at the sentencing of a young person. Toronto, ON: Pearson Education Canada. The parents should be informed of their child's proceedings, and are encouraged to support them in addressing their offending behaviour. Sentencing Options 42 2 i In the Act, under Sentencing options 42 2 i , the court has the option to order a young person to complete community service for a punishment.
Opinions on the YCJA
Some are tracked with those ankle monitors. We provide effective and affordable lawyer representation for those charged with criminal offences throughout Ontario, Canada. If the youth agrees, the police can also refer the youth to a program under section 7 of the Act. Police are the first officials to be encountered within the system and possess the power to use discretion in deciding whether to issue a warning, a police caution, or a charge. However, subject to the availability of programming it is possible to attach conditions that order the youth to attend special programming in the community.
Sentencing of Young Persons
Each committee is a group of trained volunteers from the local community. Toronto: Irwin Law, 2002. However, one case I wish to bring up is that of a 17-year-old male student who had committed his second sexual assault in the bathroom of his Woodville high school. Specific Deterrence and Denunciation The YCJA now includes specific deterrence and denunciation as youth justice sentencing principles to discourage, where necessary, the young person who is being sentenced from committing further offences. Further, if a subsequent offence occurs after the youth turns 18 the YCJA charge could become part of their permanent adult criminal record.
Youth Criminal Justice Act Explained for Police Students
The YCJA also allows judges to impose an intensive rehabilitative custody and supervision order if a youth has been found guilty of a serious violent offence and is suffering from a mental, psychological or emotional disorder. The purpose of sentencingā¦ is to hold a young person accountable for an offence through the imposition of just sanctions that have meaningful consequences for the young person and that promote his or her rehabilitation and reintegration into society, thereby contributing to the long-term protection of the public. . Youth Justice Renewal Canada: Department of Justice. Act does not require the charges be laid; rather, it states that an alternative approach is recommended.
Youth Criminal Justice Act
Toronto: Pearson Education Canada. The aim of this system to educate offenders and raise them in a way that makes them law-abiding citizens in order to prevent further offenses. Under the YCJA, custody sentences are intended primarily for violent offenders and serious repeat offenders. Many youths are also sentenced to periods of probation that last beyond their 18th birthday. In dismissing the appeal, the Court noted that the respondent had made progress in the sex offender treatment program while in prison, whereas he had had difficulty following treatment conditions in the community.
Youth Sentencing Options
The Court of Appeal held that the court did not have jurisdiction to supervise or direct the province in the performance of its duties, and in particular to direct that it assign a youth worker with specialized skills to work with the young person. In other words, the sentence should fit the seriousness of the crime and take into account the maturity of the young person involved and the conditions under which the crime was committed. For those enrolled in law enforcement foundations training, understanding the YCJA is an essential part of understanding the Canadian legal system, as well as the role that the law can play in addressing ethical considerations such as rehabilitation and fairness. This goal is apparent in the Declaration of Principle stating th. Following the Young Offenders Act, the Youth Criminal Justice Act reinforced and updated the precedent set, with a few changes that those with police foundations training will want to be aware of. The most pressing issue in Britain today however, is the social problem of youth delinquency.
