Why does ycja exist

For example, the YCJA requires that Courts consider extrajudicial measures in all cases, even if the accused is found guilty or has had prior convictions. This means that judges must first look to punishments other than, say, jail time or probation. Only young offenders in exceptional circumstances, such as where they have committed a violent crime or have an extensive criminal history, will be given a sentence in jail.

Judges have multiple options in sentencing youth, including a reprimand also known as a warning or an order to attend a special program or counseling. The YCJA also requires special police action when dealing with youth. Police officers must consider extrajudicial measures in all cases before choosing to lay charges. Restitution : This means that if the youth took something from someone and still has it, they can be ordered to return it.

Compensation : This means that the youth will be ordered to pay the victim of the crime for his or her loss such as the cost of repairs, the cost of replacing the goods, medical bills, or lost wages. Youth could be ordered to compensate a third party. Community Service : The judge will consider the youth's time, abilities, and the offence, and will make an order for the youth to do work in the community.

The youth will not be paid for this work. The order will tell how many hours they must do and how long they have to complete it. They can be sentenced with up to hours of community service with one year to complete it.

Probation : This means the judge will order the youth to abide by certain conditions and to report to a probation officer regularly. If the youth does not follow the rules in the probation order, the YCJA allows for a review and possible changes to the probation order to ensure that the conditions are realistic and effective.

The maximum length of a probation order is two years. Intensive Support and Supervision Program "ISSP" : This means that the youth is subject to closer monitoring and more support than under a probation order. Intermittent Custody : If the youth is sentenced to custody for no more than ninety days, they may be able to serve it intermittently not all in a row.

For example, the youth may serve the sentence on weekends so that he or she can attend school during the week. The YCJA recognizes that young people coming out of custody will need assistance in successfully reintegrating into the community.

Therefore, every period of custody is followed by a period of supervision and support in the community as part of the young person's sentence.

A youth worker helps the young person plan for his or her reintegration into the community and provides support and supervision to help ensure a successful transition back into society. While youth court proceedings take place in open court, meaning that members of the public can attend and observe the proceedings, the YCJA does contain specific provisions regarding the publication of a youth's identity.

As a general rule, no identifying information that would reveal that a young person has been dealt with by the youth justice system can be published. The rationale for this general rule is that publication can undermine efforts to rehabilitate and reintegrate young people back into the community. However, there are exceptions to the rule against publication.

For example, when a youth court imposes an adult sentence, the publication ban is automatically lifted. The YCJA also allows for publication when a youth sentence is imposed for a violent offence, and the judge finds that lifting the publication ban is necessary to protect the public against a significant risk that the young person will commit another violent offence.

The YCJA recognizes the importance of involving families, victims and communities in the youth criminal justice system. One way in which this is being done is through conferences. Under the YCJA, a conference is defined as a group of people brought together to give advice to decision-makers such as police officers and judges. A conference can give advice on appropriate extrajudicial measures, conditions for release from pre-trial detention, appropriate sentences, and plans for reintegrating a young person back into the community after serving time in custody.

It recognizes that in order to protect society, youth who commit crimes must be held accountable through measures that are proportionate to the seriousness of the offence.

The measures taken should also aim to promote the rehabilitation of youth, help them successfully reintegrate back into society and prevent them from committing further offences. You will not receive a reply. For enquiries, please contact us. YCJA Principles The YCJA states that the youth criminal justice system is intended to protect the public by holding youth accountable, promoting the rehabilitation and reintegration of youth back into society, and preventing crime.

Extrajudicial Measures The majority of youth crimes involve non-violent activities such as shoplifting, possession of stolen property, breach of probation, or relatively minor assaults that do not involve bodily harm. Youth Court If a young person's case is not resolved through extrajudicial measures, it will be dealt with in youth court.

Sentencing If a youth pleads guilty or is found guilty of a criminal offence, the youth court judge must determine the appropriate sentence.