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A Strategy for the Renewal of Youth Justice
Introduction
Canada's justice system enjoys the admiration and respect of Canadians and of many countries that desire to emulate its success. However, justice is a work in progress, and improving our justice system is an ongoing objective and challenge.
As Canadians' demands and expectations of their justice system change, governments and judicial institutions must be prepared to respond.
One area where it is clear that governments and policy makers must respond is youth justice. Canadians see youth crime as an important issue – even at a time when youth crime rates seem to be falling. However, while Canadians want to feel safe and secure in their homes and communities, they also want a youth justice system that does not abandon youth. Our youth justice system must protect society, reinforce social values and also give youth every opportunity to become productive, responsible citizens.
The old youth justice system had three main weaknesses. First, not enough was being done to prevent troubled youth from entering a life of crime. Second, the system needed to improve the way it dealt with the most serious, violent youth: not just in terms of sentencing but also in ensuring that these youth were provided with the intensive, long-term rehabilitation that is in their and society's interest. Third, the system relied too heavily on custody as a response to the vast majority of non-violent youth when alternative, community-based approaches could do a better a job of instilling social values such as responsibility and accountability, helping to right wrongs and ensuring that valuable resources are targeted where they are most needed.
Few issues pose more challenges to governments and policy makers than that of developing appropriate and responsible solutions to youth crime.
What are needed are approaches that provide for greater public involvement in the justice system without undermining the fundamental requirement for a uniform legal system. And what is also needed is a broad range of measures that include early intervention for children at risk, prevention programs, appropriately tailored sentencing and other broad, integrated approaches - involving families, communities, teachers, the police, social workers and many others - that combine to reinforce social values and respect for society.
Youth justice renewal requires an integrated and balanced approach - one that involves a high degree of federal-provincial co-operation and functional integration of child welfare, mental health and court systems. The response to the Standing Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs' Report on the Young Offenders Act, Renewing Youth Justice, was the federal government's approach towards renewing Canada's youth justice system and achieving this balance.
