The focus of this book is the Youth Criminal Justice Act, which came into force in 2003, and the amendments to the Act which came into force in October 2012. The 2012 amendments can in turn best be understood as the response of the current federal government to perceived limitations of the 2003 law, as well as a response to some decisions of the Supreme Court of Canada interpreting the YCJA. The present edition discusses caselaw interpreting the Act, recent social science literature, and changes in the political context and social perception of youth crime since the YCJA came into force. Previous editions of the book have been cited approvingly by all levels of courts in Canada including the Supreme Court of Canada.
The book includes discussion of constitutional, evidentiary, and procedural issues that are relevant to youth justice; it also explores some of the ethical and practical issues that confront lawyers and other professionals working in the youth justice system. As well, it considers the broader social and political context for issues of adolescent offending and youth justice.
Youth Criminal Justice Law will appeal to a broad audience, from students of law and other related disciplines, seeking an introduction to the laws governing young people who come into conflict with the law, to lawyers, judges, probation officers, and other justice system professionals who are working in this field.
