The Youth Criminal Justice System in PEI

The youth criminal justice system on PEI is made up of police, courts, lawyers, judges, youth workers, probation services and youth custody centres (jails). If you are in trouble with the law and you are of an age between your 12th and 18th birthdays, you are involved with the youth criminal justice system.

The youth criminal justice system holds young people responsible if they do a crime. It helps them understand the effect of what they have done. Victims, the young person, families and the community are encouraged to work together to support the young person and help him or her to get necessary help.

The law for young people in Canada is the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA). The YCJA deals with young people, ages 12 to 17, who are suspected, charged, or found guilty of a crime. It tries to give fair and effective responses that connect to the seriousness of the crime. It looks at the needs and circumstances of young people and works for their rehabilitation and reintegration.

The youth criminal justice system wants victims, families, volunteer groups, teachers, and the whole community to participate in the youth criminal justice system.

The YCJA applies to laws passed by the government of Canada. The most important of these are the criminal and drug laws. For crimes under provincial laws, like careless driving, drinking under age, or trespassing, the provincial Youth Justice Act gives legal consequences for young people. For example, if police find you with an open bottle of beer and you are under 19 years of age, you may be charged with possession of liquor under the Liquor Control Act.

As a young person, you need to know your rights and obligations. You have special rights that need to be protected. You have the right to be treated fairly and have your privacy respected. You have the right to be heard in court and to participate in the process. You have the right to speak with a lawyer and to have a lawyer and your parent or a trusted adult with you when you go through the youth criminal justice system.

Criminal Law

Criminal law deals with crimes which are listed in the Criminal Code of Canada and other laws, such as the Youth Criminal Justice Act and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Criminal laws are made by the federal government in Ottawa. Crimes and penalties for being found guilty are the same across Canada. Provincial governments also make laws, such as the Highway Traffic Act or the Liquor Control Act. If you break these laws, you may be dealt with in the same way as you would be with criminal laws.

In Canada, children under 12 years of age cannot be charged with a crime. If a child under 12 does something that would be a crime if he or she was older, it is understood that the child needs help. The child protection and mental health systems may become involved. They become involved to help and support the child and his or her family so the behaviour can be changed.

Crimes

Crimes are actions listed in the Criminal Code of Canada and other federal laws. There are certain conditions that have to exist for an action to be included as a crime in the Criminal Code of Canada:

• the action must be considered wrong
• the action must cause harm to other people, to society, or to those who need protection
• the harm must be serious
• the harm must be best dealt with by criminal law