Envision yourself as a fourteen-year-old sitting in a secluded prison for merely disregarding your C-train ticket once in your life. Before the Youth Criminal Justice Act, unreasonable consequences were thrown at you after only committing a minor offence by accident. That’s how important the Youth Criminal Justice Act is; it addresses youth crime in a fair and equitable manner. Since the introduction of the Youth Criminal Justice Act in 2003, we have seen the youth crime rate lower, youth are getting second chances to reintegrate and are receiving more meaningful consequences. Youth face hardships and encounter difficult situations in their teenage years, the YCJA opens opportunities for young offenders in a supportive environment. Rehabilitation
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These groups work to find those reasons that blur a youth’s perception of a just society and educate them in areas that require clarification (“Learning for Youth,” 2016.) It is good that we show sympathy for youth; however, it is also crucial that a meaningful punishment is given to young offenders. A fifteen-year-old boy took a pellet gun to a busy shopping mall in Winnipeg (“Boy Arrested in Polo Park Gun Scare,” 2014.) Without the YCJA in place, he would have been arrested and would face charges. However, he was released on a promise to appear in court because this was his first offence and no one was hurt. He was not charged the same as an adult would be, thanks to the …show more content…
On one hand, the YCJA has been successful at reducing numbers of imprisoned youth and facilitating successful reintegration. Ironically, this has given rise to a public perception that the youth criminal justice system is lenient (“John Howard: The Youth Criminal Justice Act,” 2008.) Not only does the Youth Criminal Justice Act help clear the path to the young offenders’ future, but it also ensures a safer environment for Canadian citizens as a whole (“Learning for Youth,” 2016.) The way in which the YCJA has dealt with issues is fair to all involved in
These groups work to find those reasons that blur a youth’s perception of a just society and educate them in areas that require clarification (“Learning for Youth,” 2016.) It is good that we show sympathy for youth; however, it is also crucial that a meaningful punishment is given to young offenders. A fifteen-year-old boy took a pellet gun to a busy shopping mall in Winnipeg (“Boy Arrested in Polo Park Gun Scare,” 2014.) Without the YCJA in place, he would have been arrested and would face charges. However, he was released on a promise to appear in court because this was his first offence and no one was hurt. He was not charged the same as an adult would be, thanks to the …show more content…
On one hand, the YCJA has been successful at reducing numbers of imprisoned youth and facilitating successful reintegration. Ironically, this has given rise to a public perception that the youth criminal justice system is lenient (“John Howard: The Youth Criminal Justice Act,” 2008.) Not only does the Youth Criminal Justice Act help clear the path to the young offenders’ future, but it also ensures a safer environment for Canadian citizens as a whole (“Learning for Youth,” 2016.) The way in which the YCJA has dealt with issues is fair to all involved in