Youth charges are handled under the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA), which emphasizes rehabilitation, accountability, and reintegration, rather than punishment. The YCJA offers enhanced procedural safeguards and a broader range of sentencing options, in recognition of the increased vulnerability of young persons and their decreased maturity and moral blameworthiness.

Not usually. Many youth cases are diverted out of the system and no finding of guilt is ever registered. Even if a young person is found guilty of an offence, youth records are sealed after a set period of time if no further offences occur. If however, the young person is found guilty of further offences as an adult (within certain timeframes), their youth record can convert into an adult record.

In Canada, youth are always tried under the YCJA. In very serious cases, such as murder or aggravated sexual assault, the Crown may seek to have a youth sentenced as an adult. This is rare and only pursued in exceptional circumstances. To successfully argue for an adult sentence, the Crown must demonstrate that the youth has the same developmental maturity as an adult.

Yes, but under the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA), detention is considered a last resort. Courts must consider all alternatives to custody, including release to a responsible person. Detention is only justified in rare circumstances, where there is no bail plan capable of ensuring the young person’s attendance at court, public safety, or public confidence in the administration of justice.