YCJA Basics
What does YCJA stand for?
Youth Criminal Justice Act
What does fair and equitable mean in Canada's justice system?
Rules apply to everyone while taking individual needs and circumstances into account, balancing accused persons' rights with public safety.
What is the minimum age of criminal responsibility in Canada?
12 years old.
Is jury duty a voluntary activity or a civic responsibility?
A civic responsibility.
Which organization works with men, women, boys, and girls in the legal system?
The John Howard Society.
What year did the YCJA come into effect?
2003.
What is rehabilitation?
Helping offenders address the circumstances or causes that contributed to their crime so they can leave a life of crime.
Are youth treated differently from adults when they break the law?
Yes. The YCJA applies to youth, while the Criminal Code deals with adults.
How are jurors selected?
Citizens are randomly selected from voter or resident lists and must serve unless they have a valid excuse.
Which organization focuses specifically on women and girls in the legal system?
The Elizabeth Fry Society.
What age group is covered by the YCJA?
Youth aged 12–17.
What is reintegration?
Returning young offenders to their communities without discrimination and helping them become engaged in their communities.
Name two factors that can affect the consequences a young person receives.
Any two of: seriousness of the offence, history of the young person, attitude of the young person, and the young person's individual situation.
What is the jury's job in a criminal trial?
The jury decides whether the accused is guilty or not guilty based on the evidence and law.
What is one major goal of the John Howard Society?
Preventing crime by addressing basic needs, supporting communities, and promoting evidence-based justice.
Name the two previous Canadian laws that dealt with young offenders before the YCJA.
The Juvenile Delinquents Act (JDA) and the Young Offenders Act (YOA).
What is deterrence, and does the booklet identify it as an intention of the YCJA?
Deterrence means using punishment to discourage crime. The booklet states that the Supreme Court ruled deterrence is not an intention of the YCJA.
What are two alternatives police can use instead of charging a young person and sending them to court?
Police may warn the youth or refer them to programs such as counselling or community service.
Why are jurors instructed to avoid personal, media, and cultural biases?
To help ensure a fair and impartial trial by preventing outside opinions or prejudices from influencing the verdict.
What is one major goal of the Elizabeth Fry Society?
Helping offenders heal, learn, and rebuild their lives through support and rehabilitation.
What are three key objectives of the YCJA?
Any three of: Prevent crime by addressing underlying circumstances, Rehabilitate young persons and reintegrate them into society, Ensure meaningful consequences for offences to promote long-term protection of society, Recognize the reduced maturity of young offenders.
Explain how the justice system balances the rights of the accused with public safety.
Canada's justice system aims to be fair and equitable while balancing individual rights with the safety of society and ensuring due process.
Explain why two young people of the same age who commit the same offence might receive different consequences.
Consequences can depend on the seriousness of the offence, the youth's history, their attitude and acceptance of responsibility, and their personal circumstances.
Why does the jury not determine the sentence after finding someone guilty?
The judge determines the appropriate sentence. The jury's role ends after determining whether the accused is guilty or not guilty.
How do the John Howard Society and Elizabeth Fry Society use rehabilitation to help both individuals and society?
Both organizations emphasize supporting individuals and rehabilitation. Their work includes addressing needs, building skills, providing support, and helping people reintegrate into their communities.