Your Portable Guide to the YCJA

 

This concise guide to the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) provides an overview of the youth criminal justice system in Canada, section-by-section commentary on legal and operational implications, and captures key recent developments. A must have for anyone dealing with young persons and who needs to understand how the YCJA is implemented.

 

Features and Benefits

 

• Updated commentary – references relevant cases and highlights reactions to the YCJA from the courts and those who work with the Act offering expert insight on recent developments
• Full text of the legislation – allows you to have ready access to the most current legislation
• Section-by-section commentary – allows you to understand the legal rationale and operational issues of individual provisions
• YCJA procedural chart – provides step-by-step guidance
• A table of concordance on the YCJA and the former Young Offenders Act – allows you to identify what has changed and what has remained the same
• Forms and checklists for police, Crown prosecutors and officials – provides a handy checklist of what you can and cannot do when arresting a young person

 

Highlights of this Edition

 

·         Update on recent key court decisions such as R. v. S.J.L. [2009] 1 SCR 423, where the Supreme Court of Canada commented on the issues of joint trials and direct indictments for young persons

·         Discussion of the highlights and potential impacts of Bill-C4 currently debated, and which proposes changes to repeal the presumptive offence category and place the onus on the Attorney General to satisfy the court that an adult sentence is necessary

·         YCJA Non-Disclosure Provision Chart

 

Who Will Benefit

 

• Criminal law practitioners who represent young persons and advise them of their rights
• Judges who need to be familiar with the court procedures and sentencing options for young persons under the YCJA
• Correctional service and probation officers who need to oversee the custody and supervision of young persons
• Police officers who implement extrajudicial measures and need to know the limits of their authorities in relation to young people
• Law enforcement program students who need a practical, yet comprehensive learning reference about the youth criminal justice system