The Youth Criminal Justice Act

Disclaimer

This is general information on the youth criminal justice system in Canada. It is not intended to replace professional legal advice. If you need legal advice or assistance, please contact a lawyer or a legal aid program.

The Youth Criminal Justice Act is the federal law for Canada’s youth criminal justice system that has been in place since 2003.

Across the country, governments, judges, lawyers, police, Crown prosecutors and others work closely with communities and families to prevent youth crime and to ensure a fair and effective youth criminal justice system.

In Canada, the responsibility for youth criminal justice is shared between the federal government and the provincial and territorial governments.

The federal role

Canada’s Constitution gives the federal government the power to make criminal laws and apply them across the country. This includes the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

The federal Youth Justice Initiative supports the implementation of the Act. It consists of multiple activities, including funding for youth justice programs and services, research and policy development.

The Department of Justice Canada works with these federal partners to support youth and prevent youth crime:

The provincial and territorial role

Provinces and territories are primarily responsible for enforcing and implementing the Youth Criminal Justice Act. This includes investigating and prosecuting most offences, managing youth justice courts and youth custodial facilities, and providing programming and services for youth. Provinces and territories are also responsible for providing services such as legal aid and assistance to victims of crime.