CHAPTER 2 QS 7-26
Social 9
7. When you get caught breaking the law, who begins to
make choices about what happens to you?
many agencies & officials in the justice system
ie. police officers, prosecutors, judges, social
workers, mental health workers, community
volunteers
8. What is the role of a Youth Justice Committee?
Its role is to work with you, your family and
the people you have wronged to determine a
just consequence for your offence.
9. Summarize the 5 aspects of the YCJA that are mentioned
on page 64.
1. deals with 12-17 year olds in trouble with the law
2. allows some young offenders to face consequences such as
counselling and community service
3. prohibits adult sentences for youths 12-14; allows adult
sentencing for young people 14+ who have committed serious
crimes
4. protects the privacy of young offenders
5. allows most young offenders to avoid a criminal record
10. What is a criminal record and what are some of the
consequences of having one?
A criminal record is a permanent record of
breaking the law, which is public information.
It can bar you from some jobs, volunteer
positions and travel to other countries.
11. What other circumstances may apply that could affect
how a youth is treated after a criminal charge is laid?
(Chart on page 66)
has a previous criminal record
refuses to provide the name of a parent or
guardian
12. Prior to the Youth Criminal Justice Act every young
person who broke the law was charged and went to court.
What problems did this create?
Young offenders did not face consequences
for a long time, because the courts are busy
The consequences did not always connect
back to the people and communities the
offence affected
13. Using the chart of pages 66-67 of the textbook list all
the people who may become involved as a result of a youth
criminal act.
police officer
prosecutor
judge
social workers
mental health workers
community volunteers
youth
parents
14. What factors determine the consequences young
offenders could face?
the seriousness of the offence
the history of the young person
the attitude of the young person
the circumstances of the young person
15. Why does Anne McLellan say that young people, up to a
certain age, should not be treated as adults?
They do not understand their actions in the
same way we expect of adults. They are still in
the process of forming their views. A young
person who has committed a crime has a
better chance of changing their life than an
adult criminal.
16. According to Anne McLellan, how can young people
get involved with youth justice?
volunteering in school
working with those who have broken rules or
codes of conduct
17. What are the principles and objectives of the YCJA?
A. i) prevent crime by addressing the circumstances underlying a
young person’s offending behaviour ii) rehabilitate young
persons who commit offences and reintegrate them into society
iii) ensure that a young person is subject to meaningful
consequences for his/her offence in order to promote the long
term protection of society
B. the criminal justice system for young persons must be separate
from that of adults and recognize their reduced level of maturity
18. What do statistics say about how often young offenders
get into trouble and the age at which they first break the
law?
Under the YCJA fewer young people are
charged with breaking the law because the
police can give young offenders other
consequences. The younger a person is when
they first break the law, the more likely they
are to break the law again.
19. What two changes to the YCJA were proposed in
February 2007?
To treat young offenders more harshly
1) youths 14 and up who are repeat or violent offenders to
receive automatic adult sentences
2) 16&17 - allow publication of their names and give them a
permanent criminal record
20. What change to the YCJA did Conservative Minister of
Justice Vic Toews propose to “crack down on crime”?
The changed proposed was lowering the age
when children could be charged under the
YCJA from 12 to 10 years old.
21. What facts regarding Aboriginal young offenders did
Canada’s Correctional Investigator find?
They are jailed at earlier ages and for longer
periods of time than non-Aboriginal offenders
22. What makes youth justice fair in Mr. Graham Long’s
opinion?
that the justice system takes in the needs of
the victim
23. What 2 opposing issues are seen in the abbreviated
version of an editorial from the Edmonton Journal in July
2007 on page 73?
releasing the name of the convicted murderer
(13 years old) vs. protecting her under the
YCJA
What is a political cartoon?
It conveys an opinion about a topic. It is a
type of persuasive communication.
24. In the political cartoon on page 74 what do the jail and
the young person represent?
jail = youth justice system
young person = young offenders
25. What situation does the cartoon show?
The situation is that someone has put the
young person in the jail and that the young
person has easily walked out again.
26. What is the main idea or point the artist is
communicating?
The youth justice system doesn’t stop young
offenders.