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) holding the young person accountable through measures which are proportionate to the degree of responsibility of the young person, recognizing that they are different than adults; (b) promoting the rehabilitation and reintegration of young persons who have committed criminal offences; and (c) supporting the prevention of crime by referring young people to programs within the community to address the root causes of their offending.

 

What rights do I have under the YCJA?

Young persons have enhanced procedural protections under the YCJA to ensure that they are being treated fairly under the law and that their rights are being respected. For example, unlike adults, young persons charged under the YCJA cannot provide a statement to police without: (a) a parent or guardian being present; or (b) a lawyer being present, unless that right is specifically waived by the young person. Young persons also have enhanced privacy protections under the YCJA, including that their identity will not be published with respect to their criminal matters.

https://criminalappeals.net/what-is-the-youth-criminal-justice-act-(ycja).html

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