Youth criminal justice

Canada’s youth criminal justice system is for youth aged 12 to 17 who come in contact with the criminal justice system.

The Youth Criminal Justice Act works to:

protect the public by holding youth accountable for their actions
make sure that youth have a separate criminal justice system than adults
promote the rehabilitation and reintegration of youth who come in contact with the criminal justice system
address the underlying causes of youth crime
ensure a fair and effective youth criminal justice system

Services and information

The Youth Criminal Justice Act

Learn more about the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the federal law for Canada’s youth criminal justice system that has been in place since 2003.

Youth justice initiative

Youth justice programs support the implementation of the Youth Criminal Justice Act by providing funding to provinces, territories and non-governmental organizations for youth justice projects and services.

Educational tools

Find videos and other resources to help learn about Canada’s youth criminal justice system.

State of the Criminal Justice System Dashboard – Youth

The State of the Criminal Justice System dashboard monitors the performance of the youth criminal justice system and identifies trends and data gaps.

Minister of Justice National Youth Justice Policing Award

The Minister of Justice National Youth Justice Policing Award recognizes innovative and creative police-led initiatives that help youth who come in contact with the criminal justice system.