Youth Criminal Justice Reform

Improved Essays
Implemented on April 1st, 2003, the Youth Criminal Justice Act replaced the Young Offender’s Act, introducing significant problems needing to be reformed. Applying to youth aged 12 to under 18 who have committed alleged offenses, the YCJA provides a fairer and more effective system. Creating a more organized and just system, allows youth to be cautious of crimes, yet letting them go repeatedly for “minor” crimes without a severe punishment led to abusers of the system. The Youth Criminal Justice Act focuses on reintegration and rehabilitation over imprisonment because of the fact that many crimes committed by youth, are simply peer pressure or irrational decisions. Serving a sentence in captivity diminishes the hope within a teen to reform,

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