Introduction to Youth Justice (2:I): Difference between revisions

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{{REVIEWED LSLAP | date= August 14, 2024}}
{{LSLAP Manual TOC|expanded = youth}}
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== A. History of Legislative Changes ==
The ''Youth Criminal Justice Act'', SC 2002, c 1 (“''YCJA''”) was enacted on April 1, 2003 after decades of evolution in how the legal system understands young persons. The YCJA recognizes that youths have rights under the ''Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms'' (“''Charter''”), the ''Canadian Bill of Rights'' SC 1960, c 44, and the United Nations ''Convention on the Rights of the Child'' (“UN''CRC''”). The ''YCJA'' aims to establish a youth criminal justice system which upholds those rights, while still performing its fundamental purpose of protecting the public.
Before the 19th century, there was little legal recognition of the special needs of children and youth. Children convicted of offences were punished the same as adults. In 1908, the ''Juvenile Delinquents Act'', SC 1908, c 40 [“''JDA''”] was enacted. Juvenile offenders were believed to be similar to those who were abandoned or neglected. Under the ''JDA'', children were subject to “delinquency proceedings” for violating federal, provincial, or municipal law. The ''JDA'' was an improvement over the harsh treatment inflicted on youths; however, it was applied arbitrarily or discriminatorily depending on the juvenile's race, class and gender.


By the 1960s, the ''JDA'' was undergoing public criticism, particularly for its highly discretionary regime, which gave the members of the justice system broad powers to deal with youths according to their own perceptions of a child’s “best interests”. Thus, Parliament enacted the ''Young Offenders Act'', RSC 1985, c Y-1 [“''YOA''”], which governed juvenile criminal law from 1984 to 2003. The Act applied to youths charged with specific offences under the ''Criminal Code'', RSC 1984, c C-46 [“''CC''”] and other federal  law. The Act also gave more recognition of juvenile  legal  rights,  established  a  uniform  national  age  jurisdiction,  safeguarded  against  the infringement of the basic rights guaranteed under the ''Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms'' (Part I of the ''Constitution Act'', 1982, being Schedule B to the ''Canada Act'' 1982 (U.K.), 1982 c. 11 [“''Charter''”]), and increased protection for young persons by creating the requirement of parental notification upon arrest, rights to legal representation, and the availability of the insanity defence to youth charged with offences.
Section 3 of the ''YCJA'' sets out the following guiding principles for the youth criminal justice system:
*Protecting the public by holding youth accountable, promoting young persons’ rehabilitation, and utilizing community crime prevention programs (s 3(1)(a));
*Separating the youth criminal justice system from the adult system, to recognize youths’ “diminished moral blameworthiness or culpability” for their actions (s. 3(1)(b));
*Promoting “fair and proportionate accountability” by taking measures against young persons which respect societal values, repair harm, account for young persons’ individual circumstances, and respect their social and cultural statuses (s 3(1)(c)); and
*Recognizing the unique rights of all parties involved in the youth criminal justice system, including young persons, victims, and parents (s 3(1)(d)).


As of April 1, 2003, the ''Youth Criminal Justice Act'', SC 2002, c 1 [“''YCJA''”] came into effect and replaced the previous ''YOA''. The ''YCJA'' recognizes that youths have rights under the ''Charter'', the ''Canadian Bill of Rights'' S.C. 1960, c 44, and the United Nations ''Convention on the Rights of the Child'' [“''UNCRC''”], which Canada signed and ratified in the early 1990s.
The ''YCJA'' encourages judges to impose non-custodial sentences on young persons where it is consistent with the general principles. Custodial sentences are not prohibited under the ''YCJA'' but are meant to be imposed only after a sentencing judge has considered all other alternatives (s 39). Sentences generally include educating the offender about the impact of their crime and focusing on repairing the damage or paying back society in a constructive manner.


The ''YCJA'' focuses on three key objectives to better protect the public: (1) preventing youth crime by addressing underlying causes; (2) meaningful consequences  for  offences;  and  (3)  increased  focus  on  rehabilitation  and  reintegration  for  youth returning to the community (''YCJA'', s 3). The ''YCJA'' also encourages judges to impose non-custodial sentences  on young  persons  who are found guilty  under  the  Act where  it is consistent  under  the general  principles. This  does  not  mean  that  it  seeks  to  prohibit custodial  sentences,  but  rather  to ensure that such measures are the last option.
Victims play a significant role in the youth criminal justice system. While victims have no formal rights per se, as they are not a party to criminal proceedings, the ''YCJA'' mandates that victims be “treated with courtesy, compassion, and respect for their dignity and privacy” (s (3)(1)(d)(ii)). Victims must also be kept informed on the process, have the opportunity to participate and be heard in the process, and be minimally inconvenienced by their participation in the process (s (3)(1)(d)(ii)-(iii)).
 
A significant change is the inclusion of the victims’ role in the process. While victims have no rights per se as they are not a party to criminal proceedings, the ''YCJA'' holds that victims will be heard and treated with courtesy, compassion, and respect for their privacy, and be minimally inconvenienced. Also, consequences will include educating the offender about the impact of the crime, and focusing on repairing the damage or paying back society in a constructive fashion. In some respects, B.C. legislation dealing with victims of crime has already incorporated a number of these principles, particularly in the ''Victims of Crime Act'', RSBC 1996, c 478. In 2015, Parliament enacted the ''Canadian Victims Bill of Rights'', SC 2015, c 13, s 2 (“''CVBR''”). The Act guarantees victims of crime various rights, including the right to information about the criminal justice system, their rights as victims of crime, and  their  right  to  have their  security and  privacy considered  by  the appropriate  authorities  in  the criminal justice system. For more information on victims’ rights, and resources for victims of crime see '''Chapter 4: Victims'''.
 
The ''YCJA'' was amended by Bill C-10 (“''The Safe Streets and Communities Act''”) on October 23, 2012. One change to the YCJA in Bill C-10 is that individual deterrence and denunciation of unlawful conduct was added as a sentencing principle. It  also sets out that youths are presumed to have diminished moral culpability or blameworthiness in comparison to adult offenders. Furthermore, Bill C-10 states that the youth justice system is intended to protect the public by holding young persons convicted of offences accountable through using proportionate measures, promoting rehabilitation and reintegration, and preventing crime by directing youths to programs that  address underlying causes of their actions. Bill C-10 also sets out definitions for a “serious offence” and a “violent offence” which are  broader than previous definitions given in the case law.


In some respects, BC legislation dealing with victims of crime has already incorporated a number of these principles, particularly in the [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96478_01#:~:text=2%20All%20justice%20system%20personnel,orientation%2C%20political%20belief%20or%20age. ''Victims of Crime Act'', RSBC 1996, c 478]. Federally, the  [https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-23.7/page-1.html. ''Canadian Victims Bill of Rights'', SC 2015, c 13, s 2 (“''CVBR''”)] guarantees various rights for victims of crime, including the right to information about the criminal justice system and their right to have their security and privacy considered by the appropriate authorities in the criminal justice system.  For more information on victims’ rights, and resources for victims of crime see '''Chapter 4: Victims'''.


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Latest revision as of 18:32, 21 August 2024

This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by the Law Students' Legal Advice Program on August 14, 2024.



The Youth Criminal Justice Act, SC 2002, c 1 (“YCJA”) was enacted on April 1, 2003 after decades of evolution in how the legal system understands young persons. The YCJA recognizes that youths have rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (“Charter”), the Canadian Bill of Rights SC 1960, c 44, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (“UNCRC”). The YCJA aims to establish a youth criminal justice system which upholds those rights, while still performing its fundamental purpose of protecting the public.

Section 3 of the YCJA sets out the following guiding principles for the youth criminal justice system:

  • Protecting the public by holding youth accountable, promoting young persons’ rehabilitation, and utilizing community crime prevention programs (s 3(1)(a));
  • Separating the youth criminal justice system from the adult system, to recognize youths’ “diminished moral blameworthiness or culpability” for their actions (s. 3(1)(b));
  • Promoting “fair and proportionate accountability” by taking measures against young persons which respect societal values, repair harm, account for young persons’ individual circumstances, and respect their social and cultural statuses (s 3(1)(c)); and
  • Recognizing the unique rights of all parties involved in the youth criminal justice system, including young persons, victims, and parents (s 3(1)(d)).

The YCJA encourages judges to impose non-custodial sentences on young persons where it is consistent with the general principles. Custodial sentences are not prohibited under the YCJA but are meant to be imposed only after a sentencing judge has considered all other alternatives (s 39). Sentences generally include educating the offender about the impact of their crime and focusing on repairing the damage or paying back society in a constructive manner.

Victims play a significant role in the youth criminal justice system. While victims have no formal rights per se, as they are not a party to criminal proceedings, the YCJA mandates that victims be “treated with courtesy, compassion, and respect for their dignity and privacy” (s (3)(1)(d)(ii)). Victims must also be kept informed on the process, have the opportunity to participate and be heard in the process, and be minimally inconvenienced by their participation in the process (s (3)(1)(d)(ii)-(iii)).

In some respects, BC legislation dealing with victims of crime has already incorporated a number of these principles, particularly in the Victims of Crime Act, RSBC 1996, c 478. Federally, the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights, SC 2015, c 13, s 2 (“CVBR”) guarantees various rights for victims of crime, including the right to information about the criminal justice system and their right to have their security and privacy considered by the appropriate authorities in the criminal justice system. For more information on victims’ rights, and resources for victims of crime see Chapter 4: Victims.

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