Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA)
Last updated on October 13, 2021The Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) is the federal law about the youth criminal justice system. The purpose of the act is to protect the public by:
- Holding youth accountable through measures that are proportionate to the seriousness of the offence and the level of responsibility of the youth
- Rehabilitating youth and helping them back into society so they become law-abiding members of the community, and
- Preventing crime by referring youth to programs and services to address circumstances that lead to offending behaviour
Explore this Section
To learn more about the Youth Criminal Justice Act and youth criminal justice system, see:
- Youth and Adult Criminal Justice Systems (differences)
- Holding Youth Responsible (purpose and considerations)
- Role of Parents
More Information
For more information, please visit: Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) on the Canadian Legal Information Institute website. The following identifies some of the main sections of the act:
- Part 1: Extrajudicial Measures
- Part 2: Organization of Youth Criminal Justice System
- Part 3: Judicial Measures
- Part 4: Sentencing
- Part 5: Custody and Supervision
- Part 6: Publication, Records and Information
- Part 7: General Provisions
- Part 8: Transitional Provisions
Law Lessons
Visit the Justice Education Society's Law Lessons website for law curriculum resources for teachers.