Harper's Revisions to the Youth Criminal Justice Act Analytical Essay by Top Papers

The paper relates that the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) is governing legislation that dictates the administration of justice in reducing the crimes committed by youths in Canada. The paper explains that the YCJA is a replacement for the YOA (Young Offenders Act) and the replacement legislation went into effect April 1, 2003. The paper discusses how the purpose of the YCJA is to interpret through a framework of policy the declaration of the YCJA. The paper relates that the YCJA has as it principle declaration to work with youths between the ages of 12 to 17; youths are legislated to be under the age of 18 and they are also legislated to be treated differently under the law than adults. The paper explains that this different treatment under the law is a result of a youth dependency, lack of maturity and lack of development.