YCJA in the News

News stories are good at showing perspectives and opinions. So is a video on the YCJA:

Is the Youth Criminal Justice Act Fair and Equitable?

Is the YCJA fair and equitable? Well, after providing all this information, I believe that it is indeed fair and equitable. There are well thought out objectives for youth who commit crime, statistics showing high incarceration rates, consequences that are meaningful, Jury who provide fair trials, and Elders who contribute to the justice system. The justice system is safe and well run.

Elders in the Youth Justice System

Elders contribute to the fairness and equity of youth justice. They share traditional customs and are members of the youth justice committees in their communities. They help and guide young people with their own culture and values. Elders can be role models and advisors in their community. They can provide mentorship to young people to prevent crime or help them re-integrate with society.

Justice Advocacy Groups

Justice advocacy groups try to solve the underlying reasons for crime. They provide public education about laws and the justice system, help reintegrate offenders into society, stand up for rights of the accused in crimes, and call for measures to improve the fairness of the justice system for those who are accused and harmed by crimes.

There are two justice advocacy groups in Alberta. The John Howard Society, and the Elizabeth Fry society. The role of the John Howard Society is to be like a conscience for the justice system. They examine evidence and see what really needs to be accomplished. They try to solve the underlying reasons of crime such as inadequate food or shelter. They look at what can be done to prevent crime such as community development and recreation for young people.

The Elizabeth Fry Society aims to provide convicted women and girls a place to heal and grow. They believe that the justice system needs to look at each case individually. Every offender is an individual, and the situation is individual. They help re-integrate people into society. They strive in preventing crime by providing needed resources.

Citizens may help volunteer for these advocacy groups. They may attempt to influence the government and justice system to be more focused on crime prevention. They can also help improve the lives of people who have committed crimes. And citizens who volunteer for these advocacy groups, show that they value and support the idea of crime prevention.

Jury in the Youth Justice System

Under the YCJA, a person 14 years of age or older may choose to be tried by a judge and jury for certain serious offenses, such as assault or murder. The jury for these offenses consist of 12 people, and all 12 must agree on the verdict. The decision must be unanimous. You can also note that the jury does not influence how hard it is on someone, they can only decide if the accused is guilty or not guilty.

Serving on juries is considered a duty of Canadian citizens. Anyone 18 years of age and older are considered for jury. But there are exceptions, like people convicted of some crimes. If you are summoned to jury duty, it is your responsibility to appear at the courthouse on time. You must make whatever arrangements are necessary for transportation, time off work or classes, and rebooking assignments. Employers are required to give you time off for jury duty, but don't have to pay you. People may be excused from jury duty if they can demonstrate it would cause them undue hardship.

There are advantages and disadvantages to having a jury for an accused person. Advantages are that they can discharge biased people, and it reduces the harshness of the justice system. Disadvantages are that it may be more expensive in legal fees, it can take longer than facing a judge, and the jurors views may be swayed with sly lawyers.