The Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) is the federal law about the youth criminal justice system. The purpose of the act is to protect the public by: Holding youth accountable through measures that are proportionate to the seriousness of the offence and the level of responsibility of the youth.
What is the main purpose of the Youth Criminal Justice Act?
The YCJA is intended to protect the public by holding youth accountable, by preventing crime and by rehabilitating and reintegrating youth in the community. The Act further supports the prevention of crime by referring youth to community programs.
What are the principles of the Youth Criminal Justice Act?
The principles of the YCJA specifically recognize the concerns of victims. Victims are to be given information about the proceedings and an opportunity to participate and be heard. They are to be treated with courtesy, compassion and respect for their dignity and privacy.
What are the 4 objectives of the YCJA?
The objectives of the youth justice system are crime prevention, rehabilitation and reintegration, and meaningful consequences. These objectives taken together will promote the long-term protection of the public.
What is the youth justice system in Canada?
The Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) is the federal law that governs Canada’s youth justice system. It applies to youth aged 12 to 17 who get into trouble with the law. The YCJA recognizes that young persons must be held accountable for criminal acts, although not in the same way or to the same extent as adults.
When did the Youth Criminal Justice Act start in Canada?
April 1, 2003
The Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA; French: Loi sur le système de justice pénale pour les adolescents) (the Act) is a Canadian statute, which came into effect on April 1, 2003. It covers the prosecution of youths for criminal offences.
Is the Youth Criminal Justice Act effective?
The YCJA has succeeded in significantly reducing the rates of use of court and custody, without increasing recorded youth crime. There continue to be significant regional variations in rates of use of youth courts and custody.
What are the 5 elements of a criminal act?
The elements of a crime are criminal act, criminal intent, concurrence, causation, harm, and attendant circumstances. Only crimes that specify a bad result have the elements of causation and harm.
What are the three main models of youth justice?
They are the welfare model, the justice model, the minimum intervention model, the restorative justice model and the neo-correctionalist model.
What are the three major goals purposes of the Juvenile Courts Act?
The primary goals of the juvenile justice system, in addition to maintaining public safety, are skill development, habilitation, rehabilitation, addressing treatment needs, and successful reintegration of youth into the community.
Why does the YCJA treat youth differently than adults?
The YCJA applies to youth between the ages of 12 and 17 years old. A person is considered an adult at the age of 18 and a person under the age of 12 cannot be charged with a crime. The YCJA treats youth different from adults because of: Increased level of dependency.
Why is the YCJA controversial?
It was criticized on many counts: for being too soft on the offender; for lacking a clear philosophy on youth justice in Canada; for inconsistent and unfair sentences; for not properly addressing serious and violent offences; for an overuse of the court system; and for not giving enough recognition to the victims.
What are the legal rights of youth in Canada?
The youth’s right to retain and instruct counsel. The right to contact his/her parents or other appropriate adult. The possibility of contacting counsel when he/she arrives at the police station. The possibility of obtaining the assistance of counsel free of charge.
How are youth treated differently than adults in the criminal justice system Canada?
Special Protection of Rights – While youths enjoy all the legal rights of adults, certain rights are given special protection in the youth justice system. Some of these include the right to a lawyer, the right to privacy and special safeguards when a youth is questioned by the police.
Can a 12 year old be charged with a crime in Canada?
In Canada, young people can be held responsible for a crime as of age 12. So, police can arrest a teenager if they think that the teen committed a crime (for example, theft, assault, drug possession or trafficking).
What is the maximum sentence for youth in Canada?
Sentencing Options
The maximum length of youth sentences ranges from two to ten years, depending on the offence committed and the type of sentence imposed. Under the YCJA, custody sentences are intended primarily for violent offenders and serious repeat offenders.
What are the 3 basic components of a criminal offense?
In general, every crime involves three elements: first, the act or conduct (actus reus); second, the individual’s mental state at the time of the act (mens rea); and third, the causation between the act and the effect (typically either proximate causation or but-for causation).
What are the 4 defenses to a crime?
When it comes to criminal cases, there are usually four major criminal defense strategies that criminal attorneys employ: innocence, constitutional violations, self-defense, and insanity.
What 2 elements must be present for an act to be considered criminal?
A crime may be divided into 2 elements: the prohibited conduct or act (actus rea) and the required mental element (Mens Rea). Generally, before an act can become a crime it must fall precisely within the definition of the offence.
What are the four pillars of youth justice?
pillars are: prevention, early intervention, diversion and rehabilitation. 5) The four pillars of a responsible Youth Justice System – Prevention, Early Intervention, Diversion and Rehabilitation. across the whole of the state.
What is the new youth justice system?
The youth justice system
prevent offending and re-offending by children and young people by working with them, their parents and carers. support victims of crime to help them come to terms with what has happened.