Youth Justice

       

      THE YOUTH CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT

      The Youth Criminal Justice Act does not create any

      significantly new offences. For the most part, it simply sets out

      procedures for dealing with persons under 18 facing Criminal or Drug

      charges.

 

      The Act seeks to address crime by "addressing the circumstances

      underlying a young person's offending behavior," to "rehabilitate young persons

      who commit offences and reintegrate them into society" and to "ensure that a young person

      is subject to meaningful consequences for his or her behavior to promote the long-term

      protection of the public."

 

      In a way, the Act is a rulebook for dealing with young persons; from

      Police investigations, to the laying of charges, through trial prosecution

      by Crown Attorneys and sentencing by the Judge in case of a guilty

      verdict, the Act governs the young person's rights.