The Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) |
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As of April 1, 2003, the Young Offenders Act has been replaced by the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) as the basis for the youth justice system in Canada. This legislation is the backbone of a major restructuring of the youth justice system designed to enhance its fairness and effectiveness.
The main goals of the new system are:
| • | To provide consequences that mean something to young people who commit crimes and that help young people understand the impact of their actions |
| • | To help rehabilitate young people who offend |
| • | To provide support and supervision for young people, so they can better re-enter society. |
Changes have been made in the YCJA that address the issues of Drug Use, Prostitution, Bullying, Racism, Murder, Attempted Murder, Drug Trafficking, Shoplifting, Vandalism, Armed Robbery, Assault, and Sexual Assault. It is important to know about these changes and how they affect the safety of your community.
For more information, please visit The Department of Justice.