Youth Criminal Justice Act - 1532 Words

The Youth Criminal Justice Act is a piece of Canadian legislation...that determines the way in which youths are prosecuted under Canadas criminal justice system. The act was implemented April 1, 2003, after 7 years, 3 drafts, and more than 160 amendments. The clearly stated purpose of the Youth Criminal Justice Act is protection of the public through crime prevention, rehabilitation, and meaningful consequences (s.3(1)(a)(I-iii)). For a better understanding on whether the courts were following the Youth Criminal Justice Acts principles in practice, I went to Edmonton Law Courts and sat in on youth court. After reviewing the act in theory and practice, I argue that the Youth Criminal Justice Act is doing a fair job in fulfilling†¦show more content†¦The defendant plead guilty to all of his charges. To begin the judge gave the defendant more time to pay his fine. Then the prosecutor began by saying that the defendant was non-compliant, had consistently sabotaged the peop le around him, and that his mother had called him a selfish individual. Since the defendant had been on probation he had constantly committed new offences. At one point, he had been living in a group home and six days after sentencing he had committed new offences. The crown requested that he should be sentenced 6 months deferred custody. The defendants own lawyer responded by telling the judge she really enjoys her client and that all he was, was a nuisance. Although he was a nuisance to probation officers, the court, and the group home he was not a violent offender, and the YCJA was created so nuisances are not put in custody. Also, her client has his own personal problems which may explain his criminal behaviour as he is angry with his lot in life and often self-medicates. His lawyer said that 6 months deferred custody seems lengthy since that was the maximum sentence one could receive. The judge replied to the attorneys by saying that he has been given chances since he is not a violent offender, but one can only get so many. He said maybe there should be a case of no forgiving. The defendants lawyer replied that her client is, not a danger to the general public and that 3-4 months deferred custody would beShow MoreRelatedThe Youth Criminal Justice Act893 Words   |  4 Pagesfire. The youth criminal justice Act (YCJA) provided opportunities for them to reintegrate and rehabilitate, instead of throwing them in jail. YCJA covers kids between the ages twelve to seventeen years old. It s purpose is to handle youth offenders more differently than adults because of their undeveloped minds. The YCJA was released back in 2003. By protecting the rights and providing Youth Canadians the support they need, the YCJA benefits the offenders in a positive way. The act gentrustRead More Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) Essay872 Words   |  4 Pages Youth crime is a growing epidemic that affects most teenagers at one point in their life. There is no qu estion in society to whether or not youths are committing crimes. It has been shown that since 1986 to 1998 violent crime committed by youth jumped approximately 120% (CITE). The most controversial debate in Canadian history would have to be about the Young Offenders Act (YOA). In 1982, Parliament passed the Young Offenders Act (YOA). Effective since 1984, the Young Offenders Act replaced theRead MoreThe Youth Criminal Justice Act879 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice† –Abraham Lincoln Why is it that gardeners spend so much time nurturing their precious flowers? Perhaps the answer lies in the satisfaction which is gained from raising beautiful blooms. In like manner, Canada’s government believes that their flourishing youth deserve care and support in their journey of learning morals. The Youth Criminal Justice Act is a system which enforces the punishment of teenagers from the ages of 12-17Read MoreThe Youth Criminal Justice Act873 Words   |  4 PagesDear Mike Wallace, chair of the Justice and Human Rights Committee, I am writing today with reference to the recent amendments being proposed to the Youth Criminal Justice Act, contained within Bill C-10. This bill proposes a multitude of amendments that should be made to the current Youth Criminal Justice Act. One of the major amendments that Bill C-10 proposes is in relation to the location of detention for young offenders. Currently, a young offender, under the age of eighteen, can be orderedRead MoreThe Youth Criminal Justice Act Essay2429 Words   |  10 Pagesin accordance with the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The Youth Criminal Justice Act was created in 2003. The main objective of this legislation is to hold youth accountable for their actions through the promotion of â€Å"rehabilitation† and â€Å"reintegration† (Youth Criminal Justice Act, 2002, S.3a(ii)). Within the Canadian court system, there is a youth court for individuals who get in trouble with the law while they are still under the age of 18 years. In Calgary, Albert a the youth courtrooms are locatedRead MoreYouth Criminal Justice Act881 Words   |  4 PagesWhen someone mentions the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA), some would argue that there is no purpose for it. Some believe that the age boundary is inappropriate; some believe that children should not have reduced sentences and special rights; and some may think that a youth’s criminal record should be accessible in the future. If one would look at all of the positive aspects, statistics, and examples that apply to the YCJA, then they would better appreciate the statute that applies to the youngRead MoreThe Youth Criminal Justice Act2109 Words   |  9 PagesIntroduction: Since the youth justice legislation has begun, there have been three youth justice statutes: the Juvenile Delinquents Act (1908-1984), the Young Offenders Act (YOA) (1984-2003), and the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) (2003-present). Canada’s youth criminal justice system doesn’t set up a different set of laws for young people. The same things are illegal for both adolescents and adults. The Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) explains the criminal laws for young people livingRead MoreThe Youth Criminal Justice Act Essay1471 Words   |  6 Pagesin accordance with the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The Youth Criminal Justice Act was created in 2003. The main objective of this legislation is to hold youth accountable for their actions through the promotion of â€Å"rehabilitation† and â€Å"reintegration† (Youth Criminal Justice Act, 2002, S.3). Within the Canadian court system there is a youth court for individuals who get in trouble with the law while they are still under the legal age of 18 years. In Calgary, Alberta the youth courtrooms are locatedRead MoreYouth Criminal Justice Act Essay1257 Words   |  6 Pagescontinue the government established the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) which gives young offenders a chance to better themselves, and. By doing so, the YCJA helps teach youth that their actions are unacceptable and the punishments impose d are lesser then an adult. Through the analysis of their unacceptable actions, lesser punishments and a better future, it is clear that YCJA is highly effective at giving youth a better chance in society. The YCJA teaches youth that their actions were unacceptableRead MoreIs The Youth Criminal Justice Act Really A Deterrent?3036 Words   |  13 PagesIs the Youth in Criminal Justice Act really a deterrent to youth? The Youth in Criminal Justice Act often gets a bad rap for not being hard enough on its young offenders. There is a divide between those who would like to see these youth rehabilitated, and those who like to see them punished with lengthy prison sentences. The following case of R. v. G.-E.(A.), is a prime example of how difficult it can be to chose the most appropriate sentence for a youth offender with the Youth in Criminal Justice