Young Offenders Act

2 Pages 538 Words

On April 1, 2003 the YCJA was created (Youth Criminal Justice
Act) this act replaced the Young Offenders Act.
The change in legislation is because the federal government
is trying to reform the Canadian youth.

Most of the young people that are imprisioned is because of the distruction of and/or in relation to propety. Only 20% of young people in custody in Canada have actually committed some sort of violent offence. The incarcertion rate for youth is higher then the rate for adults. Young people tend to get longer sentences then adults do.

The YCJA includes among all of it's provisions a "declaration
of principle " This declaration says that the victim should be treated with courtesy, respect and compassion they are also given an opportunity to participate and be heard. It also says that the criminal justice department system for young people should "emphasize fair accountability of young people depending with the dependancy of young persons and lower level of maturity." The YCJA trys to divert more and more young people away from youth court through the introduction to extrajudicial measures.

The YCJA requires police officers to consider a few of the extrajudicial measures before starting any judicial proccedings, it is up to the police at first to decide what they think is in the best interest of the young offender in the case of a offence these extrajudicial measures include: taking no further action, warning the young offender; administering a caution; a referral that the young person joins a group or organization that may help in assisting the offender to not commit any more offences. But the YCJA still seeks to have the young people take responsibility for their offences.

The offenders that admit to doing the crime are allocated a easier extrajudicial sanction. These sanctions may include any of the following; apologies to the victim; community service; or paying restitution if crime is property related.
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