Toronto Youth Criminal Justice Act Lawyer
If you been charged with a crime, this means you are within the age of criminal responsibility in Canada. The age of criminal responsibility across Canada begins at 12. This means that from 12 years old and onward, you are at risk of criminal prosecution in Canada. Before 12, you are not at such risk, although deviant behaviour could give rise to other forms of state intervention that affect your liberty.
Youth, or “young persons”, are legally defined to be between the ages of 12 and 17. Once you turn 18, you are treated automatically as an adult in the eyes of criminal law.
Contact a Toronto Youth Criminal Justice Act Lawyer if you are between the ages of 12 and 17 and have been charged with a criminal offence. The law surrounding young persons is vastly different than for adults, and a knowledgeable and experienced criminal lawyer is required.
What criminal law legislation applies to Youth in Canada
The Youth Criminal Justice Act regulates all youth criminal procedure and sentencing. The Criminal Code of Canada and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act set out criminal offences for which Youth, like adults, are liable for. Contact Andrew Captan, a Toronto Youth Criminal Justice Act Lawyer today for any youth case you are facing.
Note that even if you are currently over 18, if the offence you are charged with allegedly happened when you were a youth, then you would be treated as a “young person” for the purpose of the case.
What did the Youth Criminal Justice Act replace?
The Youth Criminal Justice Act replaced the Young Offenders Act in 2003. Prior to the Young Offenders Act, the Juvenile Delinquents Act was the relevant legislation.
Can a Youth Go to Jail?
Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, jail sentences are generally reserved for violent or repeat offenders. The maximum sentence of jail for a youth is for the offence of first degree murder — the sentence for that being 10 years. In short, Youths are at risk of jail, although jail is typically a last resort and reserved for more serious offences. If you charged with a serious youth criminal offence, contact a Toronto Youth Criminal Justice Act Lawyer today for a free consultation.
What is the objective of the Youth Criminal Justice Act?
The Act aims to hold youth accountable for their actions, to rehabilitate them and reintegrate them into society and to reserve the most serious sanctions for the most serious crimes. Generally speaking, youth are treated more leniently than adults. This is because the development of a young person is different than that of an adult. Accordingly, their blameworthiness is reduced. A Toronto Youth Criminal Justice Act Lawyer will be able to navigate the youth criminal justice system with you in order to ensure these objectives are advanced.
Andrew Captan – Toronto Youth Criminal Justice Lawyer
Contact Andrew Captan today for a FREE consultation regarding youth case at (647) 878 – 6355, by visiting his website HERE or by e-mailing him at andrew@captanlaw.com
