To what extent is the justice system fair and equitable for youth?
Most young offenders get into trouble with the law only once. But the younger people are when they first break the law, the more likely they are to break the law again (Statistics Canada study, 2005). The YCJA attempts to acknowledge that youth need different treatment within the justice system that ensures it is fair and equitable for them. Many people in Canada, and around the world, believe that youth are not reprimanded harsh enough for the crimes they commit and that in general, are able to squeeze through the justice system without punishment. Others, believe that the justice system does not treat youth fairly and punishes them without acknowledging that rehabilitation and reintegration are important for young offenders. So, what are your thoughts? Provide at least 2 reasons to support your opinion when answering this question.
45 Comments
Ꮶǟʟɨ
11/13/2013 01:55:57 am
í líkє thє чcjα вєcαuѕє єvєn thσugh thєч mαч nσt gєt puníѕhєd αѕ much αѕ thєч prσвαвlч ѕhσuld, thєч ѕtíll gєt α chαncє tσ gєt "turnєd αrσund" wíth rєhαвílítαtíσn αnd rєíntєgrαtíσn. puníѕhmєnt íѕn't thє σnlч ѕσlutíσn σut thєrє αnd ít míght αctuαllч mαkє thє ѕítuαtíσn wσrѕє. wíth rєhαвílítαtíσn αnd rєíntєgrαtíσn, thєч αctuαllч hαvє α chαncє tσ rєdєєm thєmѕєlvєѕ αnd chαngє thíngѕ fσr thє вєttєr. α líttlє puníѕhmєnt íѕ gσσd í guєѕѕ вut nσt tσσ much. cσmmunítч ѕєrvícє íѕ α gσσd σnє.
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Courtney
11/13/2013 01:58:58 am
I think the punishments from the YCJA are good, because when someone has done something bad, they need to learn from what they have done. Rehab I think is really good, because when someone has done something really bad, like drugs for example, rehab helps them through it.
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Dani
11/13/2013 01:59:32 am
Young people are still developing their selves and minds, unlike adults. The YJCA gives reasonable punishments to youth, enough for a youth to understand that they will face consequences for their actions. Each and every young person is given the chance and opportunity to rehabilitate themselves and reintegrate into society to live a well life. There are two large foundations supporting each females and males to mentor healthy skills and help understand the importance of human rights. I believe that the YCJA is not too harsh and that it is harsh enough, unlike many others.
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Angus burger(Julia)
11/13/2013 02:13:09 am
I totally agree with dani. Young people are growing and developing for years. Sometimes they don't realize the consequences that come with their actions. Rehabilitation and reintegrate is a great way to help them learn about the consequences and try to fix them. Adults on the other hand know what their actions will bring. There fore the consequences should be and are different. Depending on the crime committed some punishment it not a bad thing. If someone recommit ends a crime a harsher punishment than the last is a reasonable thing because they all ready know what their actions will bring. This is my thoughts and I totally am for the YCJA.
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hi
11/30/2017 05:10:55 pm
yes
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Timothy Schmidt
11/13/2013 01:59:48 am
I believe that the punishments are okay, and do fit the crimes. The only thing that ticked me off is how it can be discriminating. In 2006 aboriginal people go more punishment then non-aboriginal young offenders, for commitin he same crime! Since the YCJA is fair for most things, and punishments, I think that it is good, but needs a bit of tweking. Only a few times young offenders walk away with almost nothing, but if they commit another crime, it's different. It is because of this, that I think it is decent, but really good for reintegrated into society.
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Bryce
11/13/2013 02:00:19 am
I think if the offenders are known to offend again then they should harshening the punishment . They need to harshening the punishment so they do not want to offend again. If people keep offending maybe they should keep a watch on them. If you dothe crime you should do the time
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Tïmöthÿ Ščhmîdt
11/13/2013 02:07:36 am
I agree with this. If we don't, in a way it's like saying "I'll see you next week to clean my garage!" Basically if I vandalize something and just repaint the side of a building, then do it again, I need to be more harshly punished.
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wat
11/24/2018 02:55:57 pm
Your answer hurts my soul. The YCJA specifically applies its extrajudicial measures to new and non-repeat offenders to ensure that it is dealing with youth that do not understand the extent of their actions. If you are a repeat offender, you will not receive these extrajudicial measures and may even face adult sentencing in the adult court system
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to bryce (wat)
11/24/2018 02:57:06 pm
...........................
Jeremy
11/13/2013 02:01:51 am
I feel that youths are punished too harshly. Like, say I stole a candy bar, I'd get arrested, and have to go to court and probably have to do community service. It's a little harsh, am I right?
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Ꮶǟʟɨ
11/13/2013 02:08:14 am
í ѕtrσnglч díѕαgrєє вєcαuѕє thαtѕ whαt thєч wσuld prσвαвlч dσ fσr αn αdult вut nσt wíth thє чcjα. íf чσu ѕtσlє α cαndч вαr, чєѕ thє cσpѕ wσuld prσвαвlч cσmє вut чσu wσuld gєt hєlp frσm thє чcjα.
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Courtney
11/13/2013 02:11:39 am
I would have to disagree, if you just walked into a store and stole a candy bar, even though it's only something deliciously small, if u got caught that would be known as a crime, not a very big one no doubt, but still a crime because u stole, so having to do community service would be a good punishment, considering you did something wrong, and you have to learn from that, that's not harsh, that's life.
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Siara Krupinski
11/13/2013 02:04:29 am
I believe that most of the time youth affenders do not get punished harsh enough. For example a youth who was in a reabilitation center escaped and went to a farm house and killed a family and when police investigated there was evidence that the murders were planned. Planned murders are first degree murder. The youth wasn't charged under the circumstances he should have been. That is not justice.
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ashley croll
1/18/2021 01:29:35 pm
Was this a real case or no?
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(´・Д・)」sarah
11/13/2013 02:04:57 am
I believe we should not raise the level of punishment for the youth, we should e focused mainly on rehabilitation and teaching kids between right and wrong.but at the same time with higher level of crimes the punishment should be harsh. With crimes that seem to be constantly repeating inthe youth we should raise the level of punishment to possibly scare them off. They should be taught about the punishment they will recive. Therefore i am basicly for both sides
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bri
11/13/2013 02:06:56 am
I believe than the punishments are plenty harsh enough, but seriously I think they need to give youth a little more credit, if I was to do a crime I would know EXACTLY what im doing! Its not like I dont know the consiquences. Serious the age for this is way to high
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Timothy Schmidt
11/13/2013 02:10:10 am
This is true, people are old enough to take responsibility for their actions. Even if they drink, then commit a crime, you still chose to drink.
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Abigail
11/13/2013 02:07:03 am
I am in the middle wuth my thoughts because I think for somethings the YCJA is a bot too lenient but on the other hand it is it can be a bit strict. They are lenient because if a youth commits murder then they should be tried in the adult court. But if a kid steals something and the judge tries them in a adult then that is overkill.
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Jeremy
11/13/2013 02:07:36 am
Sorry, I accidentally pressed submit. My second point is that they may be punished fairly. I'm on both sides. Sometimes, kids are punished too harshly, but sometimes they are punished fairly. Like, bully's are punished well. And it's fair.
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Senior spicy buns (Jayden)
11/13/2013 02:08:22 am
Although I agree that the John Howard society is a fantastic idea with the reintegration of youth into society after a crime, I believe that the YCJA is not tough enough on children and on teens. If a teen sells drugs and he gets caught , what will happen. He will go through " counselling" and then will pick up trash. He will do it again. The money he made will be enough to convince anyone to do it again. What he needs is a punch in the gut rather then a slap on the wrist. He'll be back on the streets in about 3 to 5 weeks. We need to show him what jail is like and what prison is like. If he truely knows the consequences of his action he might never do them again.
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Bryce
11/13/2013 02:11:48 am
I agree they are in need of turning around pushing ppl away from drugs or doing bad things
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Brieanna C.
11/13/2013 02:08:27 am
I think that the punishments are sometimes to harsh because if you are at the wrong place at the wrong time, then you get punished for something that you didn't do. For instance, if you don't notice your friend take a chocolate bar at the grocery store and you guys don't pay for it, then leave the store but, as your walking out you guys get caught then you get blamed when you didn't even do the crime. Therefore, you and your friends get the punishment.
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Siara Krupinski
11/13/2013 02:10:18 am
Statistics show that most youth affenders are repeat affenders. Showing that a slap on the wrist isn't always enough. Some people do change but others don't. And for those who don't well what is going to happen to them? Slap on the wrists isn't always enough... So perhaps repeat affenders should be punished more harshly than first time affenders
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Mr Mcguillicutty (Scott)
11/13/2013 02:10:43 am
I think that on some of the larger crimes it isn't harsh enough and people end up re-offending more seriously, and honestly a lot of silly offences get punished too harshly. I feel there needs to be more of a grey area where punishment extends on either side. If I'm 12 and I put a ball through a window, I shouldn't be charged with vandalism, at most I should pay for the window. But if I'm 15 and I commit manslaughter I shouldn't be released after 6 months only to re-offend in a more serious manner.
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Dmitri
11/13/2013 02:10:58 am
I think that they should be more harsh because if they go and brake the law after the discipline do you think that they should do the same discipline over and over so youth doesn't learn anything. But I also think that they should do less discipline because some people over do it.
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Bryce
11/13/2013 02:12:54 am
I agree with dmitri they need to get get harsher punishments
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Casey Breen
11/13/2013 02:11:31 am
I think that the punishment is not harsh enough and they need to be punished in more harsh ways to teach them a lesson. Cause if they don't find the punishment harsh they will just do it again and not care. So I think that the government should make the punishment more harsh.
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Carmen
10/31/2014 01:11:45 am
I believe that the YCJA is great act and they do have a great reintegration program and EVERTHING but the punishments should be a tad bit harder so that they won't feel the need to break the law agian.
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I totally agree on you with this one. I feel like the programs that they have set up for us kids are GREAT and all BUT....
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joshua pohl
10/31/2014 01:28:58 am
I believe that the YCJA is a good program for the troubled youth but i think sometimes they don't get enough punishment, and if they just have to get counseling and do community service, i believe once there done they will probably just go and do it again. So i think the consequences need to be a little more harsh to teach them that breaking the law isn't supposed to fun
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Julia S
10/31/2014 01:39:56 am
I think that the punishment isn't harsh enough on young offenders because they should get in more trouble to teach them a lesson. I think that they will do it again and again and not learn their lesson. I think that if what they did was serious enough they should go to jail for it and see what it's like to be in jail. Also I think that like a slap on the wrist or being grounded isn't enough they should go to court or jail depends how bad what they did is.
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Ryan Kosa
10/31/2014 01:41:23 am
Though statistics show the YCJA to help reduce offending rates of young offenders, as stated those who are younger often tend to commit another crime. The overall concept of the YCJA is a good idea, it offers troubled youth a second chance and help;s them to realize their negative actions. However man y people often state that consequences need to be more severed. This is easy to see the reasoning. Youth are commonly given a very minimal punishment and avoid any major or long term impacts. After they have served their respective punishment, they are more susceptible to offend again. If the youths punishments were to be increased, many more youth would realize the trouble they could be in for continuing similar actions. Also another point worth adding would be adding bigger punishments for youth who are past offenders. This would help make the entire YCJA more fair and effective for the youth that impacted by it.
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Trin
10/31/2014 01:42:30 am
i think that it is a good system. when we are younger we don't have the same smarts and skills as adults. adults have more maturity and know a bit better than youth do, we are still growing up and we learn from our mistakes. i agree with the YCJA system but if the youth continue to keep breaking the laws they need a harsher punishment to learn their lesson
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Tiana
10/31/2014 01:46:01 am
I think that the YCJA is great for giving youth a second chance, or an opportunity to turn their lives around without immediate jail sentence, but in terms of equality I'm not sure it's fair. The moment you turn 18 you don't get the opportunity for a second chance or warning ( at least as much as 12-17 year olds )
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Jordanna
10/31/2014 01:48:12 am
I think that this is a good system for the young offenders. Young offenders should also know when there doing something wrong. but we are also still growing up which means that some mistakes can be made but not lots. Having this system is a good thing when your young cause no one wants to go to jails when your young. Some of the punishments can be a little harsh but that's life
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Katherine
10/31/2014 01:50:09 am
I think the system is just fine.
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Damian
11/3/2014 12:44:05 am
I think the YCJA is good because it gives youth a second chance, sometimes the youth might not diserve a second chance because they will be right back in trouble, but others just got in with the wrong people. They will change there life around.
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11/5/2014 07:22:17 am
I think the YCJA is a good program for troubled youth because it gives a second chance to the young offenders who need it. We are still kids who make mistakes, our minds are still growing and learning from previous mistakes. I think the YCJA gives reasonable punishments to the youth. Rehabilitation is a good way for youth to get back onto the right path again. The YCJA gives the chance to learn from mistakes and most people do not want to see youth in jail at the age of 13. Most people want to see them grow up, get an education (although sometimes that doesn’t happen), and pursue a career that they like to do. Statistics show that every year in which the YCJA was put in, the crime activity for youths has gone down. In 2006-2007, the most common youth court cases (38%) involved property offences, the most common was theft under $5, 000. Violent cases made up 27 percent of the cases, the most frequent being common assault. If you take a look at the facts, the rate of criminal activity is going down, and the severity of the offences are going down as well. I think that the YCJA could improve their actions by giving more severe punishments to the youth that have been past offenders. The YCJA gives youth a change to turn their life around by looking at their actions and (hopefully) wanting to change their behavior/actions. Overall I think the YCJA does have a good system, but could improve to have even less criminal activity.
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Cadence
11/7/2014 05:36:36 am
The argument that youth are still growing and don't understand what they're doing is completely wrong in my opinion. Most kids and teens know at least some difference of right and wrong and aren't completely moral compass-less. With that in mind I think the YCJA is a good thing but not for that reason. If youth were punished like adults all the time it would most likely result in a high number of incarcerated kids and no one wants that. Not only are they missing out on basic opportunities to grow and build themselves up, whether it be on an education, moral or spiritual level, but they learn who the "Bad Guy" is because lets face it, no teenager wants to be locked up and when they are it can create one massive teenage angst against authority. With the YCJA kids get a second chance and can see that people are looking out for them and really have faith that they can change and sometimes that's all a kid needs to change their ways. I think that the YCJA is just fine the way it is.
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Lea Katuski
3/8/2015 01:56:23 pm
The YCJA act in my opinion, is a fair and equitable punishment so to speak, that should mostly likely scare the young offenders rather then, be an actual punishment. On the other hand, its possibly not a harsh enough system that wont scare the young offenders enough. It is a very "bipolar" so to speak. The YCJA act is a system that seeks to, above all, reintegrate young offenders who commit crimes through rehabilitation, and i don't think anything about it need to change. anything that happens once they are an adult will be dealt with accordingly.
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