1. Purpose of Youth Criminal Justice Act Purpose of Youth Criminal Justice Act Mechanics of the YCJA Mechanics of the YCJA Consequences under YCJA Consequences under YCJA http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=KdZacGdgJrs http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=KdZacGdgJrs http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=KdZacGdgJrs http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=KdZacGdgJrs AN INTRODUCTION TO THE YOUTH CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT

2. THE BASICS OF THE YOUTH CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT 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 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 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 Under most circumstances these records are sealed at age 18 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIUeMgH0HrQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIUeMgH0HrQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIUeMgH0HrQ

3. BASICS OF THE YCJA Deals with 12-17 year olds (age is considered at time of offence) Deals with 12-17 year olds (age is considered at time of offence) Allows for consequences such as community service 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 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 Protects privacy, names not released to media Allows most offenders to avoid a criminal record Allows most offenders to avoid a criminal record

4. OBJECTIVES OF Y.J.C.A 1. Prevent crime by addressing circumstances underlying to your behavior 2. Rehabilitate the young person who commit offences and reintegrate them into society 3. Ensure that the young person is subject to meaningful consequences in order to promote long-term protection of society 4. A separate system for adults to recognize differences in maturity http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1AINgZVvxg

5. PROGRESSION AFTER AN OFFENCE Options: Options: Warning Warning Warning with conditions Warning with conditions Prosecutor options Prosecutor options Directly to court Directly to court

6. ATTITUDES ABOUT SENTENCING AND YOUTH CRIME 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. 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. More than half of respondents (58%) believed that the maximum sentence should be longer than three years in prison 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 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. 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.

7. THE NUMBERS IN YOUTH CRIME YCJA came into effect 2003 YCJA came into effect 2003 1991 highest level of youth crime, 9000 incidents per every 100,000 population equals 9% 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% 1991 highest number charged, just over 6000 per 100,000 population equals 6% 2006 incident rate 7000 per 100,000 population equals 7% 2006 incident rate 7000 per 100,000 population equals 7% 2006 charged 3000 per 100,000 population equals 3% 2006 charged 3000 per 100,000 population equals 3%

8. THE NUMBERS IN YOUTH CRIME YCJA has resulted in fewer charges since 2003 YCJA has resulted in fewer charges since 2003 Most young have a single violation or incident Most young have a single violation or incident 210 000 total incidents in 2006 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 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 Aboriginals are jailed earlier and for longer periods of time

9. FACTORS CONSIDERED WHEN DEALING WITH YOUNG OFFENDERS Issues that are considered Issues that are considered Seriousness of offence Seriousness of offence History of person, prior incidents History of person, prior incidents Attitude of the person, are they taking responsibility Attitude of the person, are they taking responsibility Circumstances of the young person Circumstances of the young person abuse abuse mental challenges mental challenges substance problem substance problem http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6P6UfIjGRI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6P6UfIjGRI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6P6UfIjGRI

10. 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?