Sentencing is defined as “the judicial determination of a legal sanction to be imposed upon a person found guilty of an offence” (Goff, 2014, p. 432). In Canada, we have the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA, 2003) instead of the Youth Offenders Act (YOA, 1984) that helps within regards to the punishment of the child between the ages of twelve and seventeen. There will be discussion of the Youth Offenders Act that was replaced and the Youth Criminal Justice Act and the Youth Offender Act. There will be more deciphering to see who gets the harsher sentences in youth that commit crime.
Youth Offenders Act
Implemented in 1984, the YOA was made for adolescents aged from twelve to seventeen that committed crime. Many problems were associated in …show more content…
This is because they wanted to stray away from prison time in the old act so that the adolescents could see the importance of being involved in society again. As well as that, this person will not commit again in the future. Moving away from the sentences of incarceration tries to improve the way of dealing with these younger people in the court system because they will still be getting the help they need via from parents, therapy, etc. and serving whatever consequence they get. The YCJA now clearly differentiates the differences from serious and non-serious crime unlike the YOA. There is now a distinction between the two of them because then there is no incarceration for the non-serious crime. Another problem fixed in the YCJA, was that were able maintain consistency in like cases, giving the same sentencing for those who commit the same crime across the country. This is maintained through extrajudicial measures, which has improved because there are better guidelines. As well as this alternative, an officer has to think of any other alternatives than taking it to court. This is good because court proceedings tend to be expensive. And for the youth that commit the crime they are able to be rehabilitated and be a part of society when they are ready. Sentencing has become in some ways easier and harsher in the system. It was easier in the sense if you committed a non-serious crime; you would not be penalized greatly - no incarceration. But if there is a serious crime committed, you can be tried as an adult. The YCJA tries to reduce the amount of adolescents incarcerated compared to the old act had previously allowed. This is beneficial not only to those who offended, but for society as well as this be cost less helping us as a collective
Youth Offenders Act
Implemented in 1984, the YOA was made for adolescents aged from twelve to seventeen that committed crime. Many problems were associated in …show more content…
This is because they wanted to stray away from prison time in the old act so that the adolescents could see the importance of being involved in society again. As well as that, this person will not commit again in the future. Moving away from the sentences of incarceration tries to improve the way of dealing with these younger people in the court system because they will still be getting the help they need via from parents, therapy, etc. and serving whatever consequence they get. The YCJA now clearly differentiates the differences from serious and non-serious crime unlike the YOA. There is now a distinction between the two of them because then there is no incarceration for the non-serious crime. Another problem fixed in the YCJA, was that were able maintain consistency in like cases, giving the same sentencing for those who commit the same crime across the country. This is maintained through extrajudicial measures, which has improved because there are better guidelines. As well as this alternative, an officer has to think of any other alternatives than taking it to court. This is good because court proceedings tend to be expensive. And for the youth that commit the crime they are able to be rehabilitated and be a part of society when they are ready. Sentencing has become in some ways easier and harsher in the system. It was easier in the sense if you committed a non-serious crime; you would not be penalized greatly - no incarceration. But if there is a serious crime committed, you can be tried as an adult. The YCJA tries to reduce the amount of adolescents incarcerated compared to the old act had previously allowed. This is beneficial not only to those who offended, but for society as well as this be cost less helping us as a collective