| The first document regulating the youth criminal | | | | As for sentencing the adult sentences can be |
| justice predecessor to the Young Offenders Act | | | | applied to offenders over the age of 14 or to |
| (adapted in 1982) and the modern day Youth | | | | offenders over the age of 12 if the offences are |
| Criminal Justice Act (accepted in 2003) was the | | | | repeated. |
| 1908 Juvenile Delinquents Act. | | | | |
| | | | | The Youth Criminal Justice Act is still a young |
| The Youth Criminal Justice Act covers the | | | | document and like all the other acts needs to be |
| prosecution of youth's for criminal offenses. The | | | | changed according to various difficult real life |
| Criminal Code of Canada defines that no person | | | | cases and examples. The Nunn Commission of |
| shall be convicted of an offence in respect of an | | | | Inquiry that occurred in 2006 was the first |
| act or omission on his or her part while that | | | | landmark public inquiry that brought big changes to |
| person was under the age of twelve years, so | | | | the Canada's youth criminal justice system. In that |
| the YCJA works only for people older than 12 and | | | | inquiry Merlin Nunn, a retired Justice of the |
| younger that 18. As for trial procedures like | | | | Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, was the chairman |
| arrest, detention, bail, trial and sentencing, they | | | | of the commission that examined events of |
| are not very different from the adult procedures. | | | | October 14th, 2004. On that day Theresa |
| Parents of the arrested minor must be notified | | | | McEvoy, of Halifax, Nova Scotia, a 52 year old |
| immediately or as soon as possible. They are also | | | | teacher's aide and mother of three boys was |
| encouraged to participate in all steps of the legal | | | | killed in a car crash caused by another vehicle. |
| process. In some cases the judge may even | | | | The driver of this, by the way, stolen vehicle was |
| order the parents to attend the court hearings. | | | | a young serial offender that was mistakenly |
| Also a youth has the right to have his or her | | | | released from jail just two days previously. The |
| parent(s) or guardian(s) present during questioning. | | | | 16-year old criminal had 38 criminal charges |
| Fingerprinting and photographing can occur only | | | | pending against him and somehow he managed to |
| when the youth is charged with an indictable | | | | be released. During the 31 days of testimony, |
| offense. As for bail the youths are usually | | | | Commissioner Nunn heard from 47 witnesses, |
| released under the same rules but into the | | | | including the families of the principals, policing |
| custody of parents or other responsible adults. | | | | agencies, Government and court officials, |
| The YCJA protects the identity of the youth and | | | | educational officials, and the legal establishment. On |
| it can only be disclosed under special | | | | December 5th, 2006 the commission made the |
| circumstances. Still the public and media are | | | | final report that held 34 recommendations in the |
| allowed to attend the trials of the youths and | | | | areas of youth justice administration and |
| proceedings may be reported. For the benefit of | | | | accountability, youth crime legislation, and |
| the publics safety the names and even photos of | | | | prevention of youth crime. |
| serious offenders can be reported in the media. | | | | |