What is the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA)
The Youth Criminal Justice Act, or the YCJA , is the legislation that governs the youth criminal justice system in Canada. The YCJA applies to young persons over the age of 12 and under the age of 18 who are facing criminal charges. This includes individuals who are now over the age of 18 but were underage when they were alleged to have committed a criminal offence. The YCJA is distinct from the Criminal Code, and its processes and goals are different as well. The YCJA recognizes that all members of society share the responsibility of guiding young persons into adulthood, which includes addressing the underlying issues that lead young persons to commit criminal offences. The goals of the YCJA are to provide guidance and support to young people who are at risk of committing crimes, as opposed to simply punishing them for their conduct. The YCJA accomplishes this by: (a) h...