Youth Criminal Justice Act: Policy Analysis and Impact on Trial Procedures in Canada
Overview
This paper examines the Youth Criminal Justice Act in Canada and its impact on the justice system, particularly focusing on how youths are tried compared to adults. It analyzes the transition from the Young Offenders' Act to the Youth Criminal Justice Act in 2003 and discusses concerns about youths being tried as adults in serious criminal cases.
What this essay covers
- Introduction to the Canadian justice system and separation of youth and adult trials
- Overview of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, its implementation date (April 1, 2003), and replacement of the Young Offenders' Act
- Analysis of reforms addressing overuse of courts, sentencing disparities, victim concerns, and youth reintegration systems
Preview
Youth Criminal Justice Act
Name
Institutional Affiliation
Youth Criminal Justice Act
In a democratic country, the constitution has laws determining how the executive, the legislature, and the judicial systems are operated. It gives jurisdiction to the three arms of government on how they should carry out their duties within the state. The legislature has the responsibility of creating and amending laws as required while the judiciary has the duty of trying and prosecuting individuals, organizations, and other entities that break the laws (Barnhorst, 2004). In Canada, the justice system outlines how youths and adults are prosecuted in court. Ideally, the youths are considered to be of minority ages and have their distinct courts where their hearings are done (Bala, Carrington & Roberts, 2009).
The judicial system of the country is outlined well to ensure the line identifying the trial of youths and adults is well understood. Instances of youths being tried as adults in criminal cases of murder, among others, have been witnessed in Canada in the past (Barnhorst, 2004). However, this is a problem that evokes strong emotions from the public and other countries. The boundary defining the process of trial for the youth and adults must be understood well within the judicial system. A clear understanding would make it easy for prosecutions to ensure that youths are not wrongly tried as adults since they could face harsh judgments. According to research, most youths that commit crime are subjected to adult trials which are considered unfair to them.