Youthful Rebellion: Laws Broken, What's The Appeal?

Youths breaking the law is a serious issue that can have long-lasting consequences. While most teens push boundaries and act out as they navigate their way into adulthood, some engage in more serious criminal activities. The age of criminal responsibility varies across countries, with Canada setting it at 12 years. This means that youths under 12 who break the law cannot be charged with a crime or detained. However, they may still face extrajudicial measures such as warnings, talks with parents, or community service. Understanding the youth criminal justice system and the potential penalties for youth crimes is crucial for both parents and youths to make informed decisions and navigate the legal process effectively.

The age of criminal responsibility

In Canada, the age of criminal responsibility is 12 years of age. This means that any child under the age of 12 who breaks the law cannot be charged with a crime, detained in custody, or sent to court. Instead, police will refer children under 12 who commit what would otherwise be criminal offences to appropriate community organisations for assistance and intervention. However, youths must be 14 or older for a judge to sentence them under adult criminal law. Sentencing a youth using adult criminal law only occurs in severe circumstances, such as repeat, significant violent offences and/or murder.

The Canadian justice system recognises that offences committed by young persons are still crimes, and there is a need to hold young persons accountable. However, the law also recognises that young people have reduced moral blameworthiness and culpability by the nature of their age and stage of development. As such, the court can prescribe extrajudicial measures or sanctions to address a young person’s bad behaviour. As defined by the YCJA, extrajudicial measures are ways of responding to youth crime that do not involve youth justice court proceedings. These may include warnings, talks with parents, volunteering, counselling, or referrals to community programs.

Parents can protect their children in the youth criminal justice system by understanding the process. Even under normal circumstances, most teens push boundaries. They talk back, break curfew, lie and sometimes cheat and steal as they navigate their way into adulthood. However, these behaviours are a far cry from the serious juvenile crimes that concern some parents.

Parental responsibility

While it is natural for teenagers to push boundaries, there are times when their behaviour can become criminal. In Canada, the age of criminal responsibility is 12, but youths must be 14 or older for a judge to sentence them under adult criminal law.

Parents can protect their children in the youth criminal justice system by understanding the process. If a young person breaks the law, the court can prescribe extrajudicial measures or sanctions to address their behaviour. Extrajudicial measures are ways of responding to youth crime that do not involve youth justice court proceedings. These may include warnings, talks with parents, volunteering, counselling, or referrals to community programs.

If a child under 12 breaks the law, they cannot be charged with a crime, detained in custody, or sent to court. Instead, police will refer them to appropriate community organisations for assistance and intervention.

The outcomes for youth who commit crimes depend on numerous factors, including the type of offence, the seriousness of the offence, the youth's personal history, and their age. While young people have reduced moral blameworthiness and culpability due to their age and stage of development, the law still recognises the need to hold them accountable for their actions.

Youth justice court proceedings

When a youth breaks the law, the court has several options to address their behaviour. Extrajudicial measures, as defined by the YCJA, offer responses to youth crime that bypass formal youth justice court proceedings. These measures include warnings, parental involvement, volunteering, counselling, or community program referrals. The court can also prescribe sanctions to address a young person's bad behaviour without resorting to formal court proceedings.

The outcomes for youth who commit crimes are influenced by various factors, including the type and seriousness of the offence, the youth's personal history, and their age. Police and the justice system recognise the need to hold young persons accountable while also considering their reduced moral blameworthiness and culpability due to their developmental stage.

Parents play a crucial role in protecting their children within the youth criminal justice system. Understanding the process can help parents navigate the system and make informed decisions regarding their children's legal rights and responsibilities. While normal teenage behaviour may involve pushing boundaries, lying, or breaking curfew, parents should remain vigilant for signs of more serious juvenile crimes.

Youth crime and personal history

Youth crime is influenced by a number of factors, including personal history, age, and the type and seriousness of the offence. In Canada, the age of criminal responsibility is 12, however, youths must be 14 or older for a judge to sentence them under adult criminal law.

The Canadian justice system recognises that young people have reduced moral blameworthiness and culpability due to their age and stage of development. This means that the outcomes for youth who commit crimes are often different from those for adults. For example, the court can prescribe extrajudicial measures or sanctions to address a young person's bad behaviour, such as warnings, talks with parents, volunteering, counselling, or referrals to community programs.

Personal history can play a role in youth crime, as it can influence the factors mentioned above. For example, a young person's personal history may impact the type and seriousness of the offence they commit, as well as their age and how they respond to extrajudicial measures.

It is important to note that most teens push boundaries and engage in behaviours such as talking back, breaking curfew, lying, cheating, and stealing as they navigate their way into adulthood. These behaviours are considered normal and are distinct from more serious juvenile crimes.

Repeat offending

The Canadian justice system recognises that offences committed by young persons are still crimes and that there is a need to hold young persons accountable. However, the law also acknowledges that young people have reduced moral blameworthiness and culpability due to their age and stage of development.

When a youth breaks the law, the court can prescribe extrajudicial measures or sanctions to address their behaviour. As defined by the YCJA, extrajudicial measures are ways of responding to youth crime that do not involve youth justice court proceedings. These may include warnings, talks with parents, volunteering, counselling, or referrals to community programs.

The outcomes for youth who commit crimes depend on various factors, including the type and seriousness of the offence, the youth's personal history, and their age. Police will refer children under 12 who commit what would otherwise be criminal offences to appropriate community organisations for assistance and intervention.

Even under normal circumstances, most teens push boundaries. They talk back, break curfew, lie, and sometimes cheat and steal as they navigate their way into adulthood. However, these behaviours are distinct from the serious juvenile crimes that concern some parents.

Frequently asked questions