The Young Offenders Act

The Young Offenders Act

This essay was written to show the advantages and
disadvantages of the Young Offenders Act over the previous Juvenile
Delinquents Act. Also it should give a theoretical underezding of
the current Canadian Juvenile-Justice system, the act and it's
implications and the effects of the young offenders needs and mental
health on the outcome of the trials.

In the interest of society the young offenders act was brought
forth on april second 1984. This act was created to ensure the rights
and the needs of a young person. Alan W. Leshied says "On one hand
the justice and legal objectives of the act are being effectively
realized while on the other hand the needs and treatment aspects of it
leave much to be desired." The research of the Young offenders act is
still ongoing but Leshied says that it is becoming clear that the
custody positions have been in dispute since the act came into effect.
The old Juvenile delinquency act states in section 38 "The care and
custody and discipline of a juvenile delinquent shall approximate as
nearly as maybe that which should be given by his parents, and... as
far as practability every juvenile delinquent shall be treated, not as
a criminal, but as a misguided and misdirected child . . . needing
aid, encouragement, help and assiezce."(Page 72)

If a youth is close to the adult age of 18 years they could be
transfered to the adult justice system. This means that they would b...

The Young Offenders Act

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