NCJ Number
148262
Date Published
1993
Length
30 pages
Annotation
This article presents an overview of juvenile justice in Canada, including the passage of the Juvenile Delinquents Act in 1908 and its replacement with the Young Offenders Act in 1984.
Abstract
The 1984 Act reflects a shift in philosophy from a welfare orientation to a greater concern with criminal behavior and the accountability of young offenders. The implications of this change are discussed in light of the potential benefits that various provisions of the Act have for young people, including the granting of various rights and the guarantee of due process. These are contrasted with the consequences that an emphasis on the criminal behavior of young people can have for the juvenile justice system. The author presents evidence suggesting that more young people are being incarcerated and for longer periods of time under the Young Offenders Act. He argues that the Young Offenders Act is unable to deal effectively with the problems of young people since it does not address the structural reality that they experience in this society. High unemployment and an increasingly lengthy period of dependency are discussed as two examples of the barriers restricting the normal passage from adolescence to adulthood for many young people. The author offers suggestions for an alternative strategy which incorporates elements of a community-based strategy as well as a focus on broader social processes. Tables, endnotes, references