In Canada, children between the ages of 12 and 17 are prosecuted under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Children 14 and older who commit violent and serious crimes can also be prosecuted as adults under certain circumstances. The Act was created with the idea that, although children should be held responsible for their crimes, the main focus of a youth criminal justice system should be fundamentally different from that of adults. As a result, the Act is geared toward providing additional procedural protection while promoting rehabilitation and reintegration into society. At Reeve Law, we use our in-depth knowledge of this niche area of law to obtain the most favourable result in your child’s case.

One of the defining provisions of the Act is the protection of youth records. To give young people an opportunity to make a fresh start after a poor decision, the Act requires that a young offender’s name remain confidential. To enforce this, law enforcement personnel and court employees are prohibited from disclosing the names of young offenders.

Depending on the severity of the crime, the penalties for youth offenders can range from fines to jail time. In general, youth crimes can be broken down into two types: summary conviction offences and indictable offences. Summary conviction offences include relatively minor crimes, such as shoplifting and breaching the peace. These convictions generally carry lower penalties that range from minor fines to short prison sentences. By contrast, indictable offences are serious crimes, such as murder and assault. When a child is found guilty of an indictable offence, the penalties involve much longer prison sentences. Without a lawyer well-versed in criminal defence, your child’s future is in jeopardy. With so much riding on a positive outcome, you can’t afford not to get expert assistance. Call us at the earliest opportunity to discuss your child’s case.

Dennis Reeve has over 40 years of criminal law experience. Dennis has worked hard to establish himself as a formidable litigator in court as well as an efficient negotiator on matters such as plea bargains.