Youth Charges - Criminal Lawyers

The Youth Criminal Justice Act is the law that governs Canada’s youth justice system. It applies to youth who are at least 12 but under 18 years old, who are alleged to have committed criminal offences.   Our Brampton Criminal Lawyers defend youth charged with crimes under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. 

• The youth justice system is intended to protect the public by (i) holding young persons accountable through measures that are proportionate to the seriousness of the offence and the degree of responsibility of the young person, (ii) promoting the rehabilitation and reintegration of young persons, and (iii) supporting crime prevention by referring young persons to programs or agencies in the community to address the circumstances underlying their offending behaviour. 
• The youth justice system must be separate from the adult system and must be based on the principle of diminished moral blameworthiness or culpability. 
• The youth justice system must reflect the fact that young people lack the maturity of adults. The youth system is different from the adult system in many respects: measures of accountability are consistent with young persons’ reduced level of maturity, procedural protections are enhanced, rehabilitation and reintegration are given special emphasis, and the importance of timely intervention is recognized. 
• Young persons are to be held accountable through interventions that are fair and in proportion to the seriousness of the offence. 
• Within the limits of fair and proportionate accountability, interventions should reinforce respect for societal values; encourage the repair of harm done; be meaningful to the young person; respect gender, ethnic, cultural and linguistic differences; and respond to the needs of Aboriginal young persons and young persons with special requirements. 
• Youth justice proceedings require a recognition that young persons have rights and freedoms in their own right and special guarantees of these rights and freedoms; courtesy, compassion and respect for victims; the opportunity for victims to be informed and to participate; and that parents be informed and encouraged to participate in addressing the young person’s offending behaviour.

Our experienced team of Criminal defence Lawyers represent clients charged in Mississauga, Brampton, Milton, Newmarket, Toronto, Oshawa, Orangeville, Hamilton, Barrie, Oakville, Burlington, Guelph, Kitchener, North York, and across Southwestern Ontario.      If you have been charged with a criminal charge, contact our Criminal Lawyers for a free telephone case evaluation today.  We will fight to defend your charges and get you the results you deserve.