NCJ Number
105833
Date Published
1986
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This paper reviews the content and implementation of Canada's 1984 Young Offenders Act (YOA) and identifies some issues in cross-cultural comparisons of juvenile justice systems.
Abstract
The 1908 Juvenile Delinquency Act reflected a treatment-oriented philosophy, but under various influences over the last few decades, juvenile courts have been more justice-oriented. In reflecting this trend, the YOA provides more legal protections for a juvenile and makes juveniles more accountable for their offenses. The act also makes the maximum age 18 years old for juvenile court jurisdiction throughout the nation. The YOA specifies the flow of cases through the system, the use of detention facilities, legal defense for juveniles, and the role of the family court. Under the YOA, a juvenile can be committed to up to 3 years custody, receive up to a $1,000 fine, be required to compensate the victim, or be given probation for up to 2 years. Although the Federal YOA has no obvious conflicts with provincially legislated welfare acts bearing upon abused and neglected children, Provinces display great diversity in their implementation of the YOA. This diversity makes it difficult to compare Canadian juvenile justice with that of another country. 1 table and 20 references.