Holding Youth Responsible

The Youth Criminal Justice Act states youth who commit a crime should be held responsible for their actions and receive fair and proportionate treatment for the crime they have committed.

The act indicates measures taken against a youth who has committed a crime should:

• Emphasize society’s values must be respected
• Encourage the youth to repair the damage or harm to the victim and community
• Be meaningful to the youth and involve parents, extended family members or, where appropriate, other community agencies in the youth’s rehabilitation and return to society
• Respect and be sensitive to cultural, ethnic, gender and language differences between people and respond to the needs of Aboriginal youth and those with special requirements