Download AN INTRODUCTION TO THE YOUTH CRIMIANAL JUSTICE ACT

AN INTRODUCTION TO
THE YOUTH CRIMINAL
JUSTICE ACT
•Purpose
of Youth Criminal Justice
Act
•Mechanics of the YCJA
•Consequences under YCJA
•http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=KdZacGdgJrs
THE BASICS OF THE YOUTH
CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT
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The purpose of the Y.C.J.A. is to
provide young offenders the
opportunity to make up some
mistakes and avoid incarceration
and a criminal record
Under certain circumstances an
individual charged under the age
of 18 can be tried as an adult
Under most circumstances these
records are sealed at age 18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIUeMgH0HrQ
BASICS OF THE YCJA
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Deals with 12-17 year olds (age is
considered at time of offence)
Allows for consequences such as
community service
Prevents adult sentences for offenders
aged 12-14, but will permit adult
sentences for individuals age 14 and
over
Protects privacy, names not released to
media
Allows most offenders to avoid a criminal
record
OBJECTIVES OF Y.J.C.A
1.
2.
3.
4.
Prevent crime by addressing
circumstances underlying to your
behavior
Rehabilitate the young person who
commit offences and reintegrate
them into society
Ensure that the young person is
subject to meaningful consequences
in order to promote long-term
protection of society
A separate system for adults to
recognize differences in maturity
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1AINgZVvxg
PROGRESSION AFTER AN
OFFENCE
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Options:
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Warning
Warning with conditions
Prosecutor options
Directly to court
ATTITUDES ABOUT SENTENCING
AND YOUTH CRIME
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With the exception of those youth convicted of
murder or those youth who are sentenced as adults,
the longest sentence available to a youth court
judge is three years in custody.
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More than half of respondents (58%) believed
that the maximum sentence should be longer
than three years in prison
while 37% felt it should remain at three years
When asked about the length of youth sentences
within the justice system, the majority of
respondents (86%) believed that youth
sentences were generally shorter than adult
sentences for similar crimes.
THE NUMBERS IN YOUTH
CRIME
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YCJA came into effect 2003
1991 highest level of youth crime, 9000
incidents per every 100,000 population
equals 9%
1991 highest number charged , just over
6000 per 100,000 population equals 6%
2006 incident rate 7000 per 100,000
population equals 7%
2006 charged 3000 per 100,000
population equals 3%
THE NUMBERS IN YOUTH
CRIME
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YCJA has resulted in fewer charges
since 2003
Most young have a single violation or
incident
210 000 total incidents in 2006
The younger the offender at the time
of their first incident, the more likely
they will have more incidents
Aboriginals are jailed earlier and for
longer periods of time
FACTORS CONSIDERED WHEN
DEALING WITH YOUNG OFFENDERS
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Issues that are considered
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Seriousness of offence
History of person, prior
incidents
Attitude of the person, are they
taking responsibility
Circumstances of the young
person
abuse
 mental challenges
 substance problem
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6P6UfIjGRI
CARTOON ON JUSTICE
What is the general feeling
about sentences being given
to offenders by the courts?
Do you support the message
of the cartoon?
Are there some crimes
where the offences are too
light?
Are there some crimes
where the penalties are too
stiff?