Term: Youth Offenders

Printer friendly

Glossary Definition

Last Updated: 2024-07-08

Definition:

The Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) is used as the primary resource in addition to the Criminal Code in court proceedings to do with youth. Section 14(1) and Section 14(5) of the YCJA states that the jurisdiction of that Act covers those who are alleged to have commit an offence while a young person.

Under The Youth Criminal Justice Act, "young person" is defined as the following:

"young person means a person who is or, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, appears to be twelve years old or older, but less than eighteen years old and, if the context requires, includes any person who is charged under this Act with having committed an offence while he or she was a young person or who is found guilty of an offence under this Act."

(Source: Government of Canada Justice Laws website - Youth Criminal Justice Act - accessed April 16, 2024)

Therefore, a youth is an individual who is between 12 and 18 when the offence was committed (not at the time of the allegation or criminal proceedings). Under the YCJA these individuals are assumed to have reduced moral culpability. Sentencing goals for them are primarily rehabilitation and ensuring meaningful consequences. Overall there are additional protections built into the justice system for youth and a focus is put on creative approaches that will help them succeed and not reoffend.

Data on youth offenders are captured in PRISM, CCAIN and COMS.

Related concepts 

• Criminal Justice System Data

Related terms 

• Corrections Offender Management System (COMS) Data
• Criminal Courts Automated Information Network (CCAIN) Data
• Jail (Prison)
• Prosecutions Information and Scheduling Management (PRISM) System Data
• The Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA)

Links 

• Government of Canada Justice Laws Website Youth Criminal Justice Act