The Youth Criminal Justice Act Essay - 1471 Words

Introduction In Canada when a young person gets in trouble with the law the punishment they will receive will be in accordance with the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The Youth Criminal Justice Act was created in 2003. The main objective of this legislation is to hold youth accountable for their actions through the promotion of â€Å"rehabilitation† and â€Å"reintegration† (Youth Criminal Justice Act, 2002, S.3). Within the Canadian court system there is a youth court for individuals who get in trouble with the law while they are still under the legal age of 18 years. In Calgary, Alberta the youth courtrooms are located at the Calgary Courts Center building with is located on 601 5th Street SW. I attended youth court on Wednesday October 26, 2016 and Monday October 31th. This paper will shed light on the atmosphere of the youth courtroom; analyze how the criminal justice professionals are acting within the courtroom, discuss certain cases that went through the youth cour ts. Observations Court Room Atmosphere During my two days attending youth court I was in two separate courtrooms. The lay out of these courtrooms was fairly simple. There was a sitting area in the courtroom where individuals could be seated. The individuals seated in this area consisted of the accused parties in cases, witnesses, family of the victims and offenders and general members from the public. There was two stands, one for the defense counsel and one for the crown attorneys. Each side also had a stand forShow MoreRelatedThe Youth Criminal Justice Act893 Words   |  4 Pagesfire. The youth criminal justice Act (YCJA) provided opportunities for them to reintegrate and rehabilitate, instead of throwing them in jail. YCJA covers kids between the ages twelve to seventeen years old. It s purpose is to handle youth offenders more differently than adults because of their undeveloped minds. The YCJA was released back in 2003. By protecting the rights and providing Youth Canadians the support the y need, the YCJA benefits the offenders in a positive way. The act gentrustRead More Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) Essay872 Words   |  4 Pages Youth crime is a growing epidemic that affects most teenagers at one point in their life. There is no question in society to whether or not youths are committing crimes. It has been shown that since 1986 to 1998 violent crime committed by youth jumped approximately 120% (CITE). The most controversial debate in Canadian history would have to be about the Young Offenders Act (YOA). In 1982, Parliament passed the Young Offenders Act (YOA). Effective since 1984, the Young Offenders Act replaced theRead MoreThe Youth Criminal Justice Act879 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice† –Abraham Lincoln Why is it that gardeners spend so much time nurturing their precious flowers? Perhaps the answer lies in the satisfaction which is gained from raising beautiful blooms. In like manner, Canada’s government believes that their flourishing youth deserve care and support in their journey of learning morals. The Youth Criminal Justice Act is a system which enforces the punishment of teenagers from the ages of 12-17Read MoreYouth Criminal Justice Act1532 Words   |  7 PagesThe Youth Criminal Justice Act is a piece of Canadian legislation...that determines the way in which youths are prosecuted under Canadas criminal justice system. The act was implemented April 1, 2003, after 7 years, 3 drafts, and more than 160 amendments. The clearly stated purpose of the Youth Criminal Justice Act is protection of the public through crime prevention, rehabilitation, and meaningful consequences (s.3(1)(a)(I-iii)). For a better understanding on whether the courts were followingRead MoreThe Yo uth Criminal Justice Act873 Words   |  4 PagesDear Mike Wallace, chair of the Justice and Human Rights Committee, I am writing today with reference to the recent amendments being proposed to the Youth Criminal Justice Act, contained within Bill C-10. This bill proposes a multitude of amendments that should be made to the current Youth Criminal Justice Act. One of the major amendments that Bill C-10 proposes is in relation to the location of detention for young offenders. Currently, a young offender, under the age of eighteen, can be orderedRead MoreThe Youth Criminal Justice Act Essay2429 Words   |  10 Pagesin accordance with the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The Youth Criminal Justice Act was created in 2003. The main objective of this legislation is to hold youth accountable for their actions through the promotion of â€Å"rehabilitation† and â€Å"reintegration† (Youth Criminal Justice Act, 2002, S.3a(ii)). Within the Canadian court system, there is a youth court for individuals who get in trouble with the law while they are still under the age of 18 years. In Calgary, Albert a the youth courtrooms are locatedRead MoreYouth Criminal Justice Act881 Words   |  4 PagesWhen someone mentions the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA), some would argue that there is no purpose for it. Some believe that the age boundary is inappropriate; some believe that children should not have reduced sentences and special rights; and some may think that a youth’s criminal record should be accessible in the future. If one would look at all of the positive aspects, statistics, and examples that apply to the YCJA, then they would better appreciate the statute that applies to the youngRead MoreThe Youth Criminal Justice Act2109 Words   |  9 PagesIntroduction: Since the youth justice legislation has begun, there have been three youth justice statutes: the Juvenile Delinquents Act (1908-1984), the Young Offenders Act (YOA) (1984-2003), and the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) (2003-present). Canada’s youth criminal justice system doesn’t set up a different set of laws for young people. The same things are illegal for both adolescents and adults. The Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) explains the criminal laws for young people livingRead MoreYouth Criminal Justice Act Essay1257 Words   |  6 Pagescontinue the government established the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) which gives young offenders a chance to better themselves, and. By doing so, the YCJA helps teach youth that their actions are unacceptable and the punishments imposed are lesser then an adult. Through the analysis of their unacceptable actions, lesser punishments and a better future, it is clear that YCJA is highly effective at giving youth a better chance in society. The YCJA teaches youth that their actions were unacceptableRead MoreIs The Youth Criminal Justice Act Really A Deterrent?3036 Words   |  13 PagesIs the Youth in Criminal Justice Act really a deterrent to youth? The Youth in Criminal Justice Act often gets a bad rap for not being hard enough on its young offenders. There is a divide between those who would like to see these youth rehabilitated, and those who like to see them punished with lengthy prison sentences. The following case of R. v. G.-E.(A.), is a prime example of how difficult it can be to chose the most appropriate sentence for a youth offender with the Youth in Criminal Justice