More than one-third of Canadians lack confidence in the youth criminal justice system, according to government research, which the Department of Justice describes as a “cause for concern.”
Research by the Department of Justice revealed that 39 percent of Canadians have little confidence that the youth criminal justice system (YCJS) is fair. Only 22 percent of those surveyed said they were confident the system is fair while 29 percent said they were moderately confident.
“These results may show cause for concern as studies show lack of confidence in public institutions such as the youth criminal justice system may undermine the quality of services provided by the institutions,” the authors wrote, as first reported by Blacklock’s Reporter.
The report didn’t give a reason for the absence of confidence in the system but said that the overall lack of “awareness and understanding of the YCJA” could be a factor.
The report’s findings came from National Justice Survey questionnaires completed by 4,949 people across the country.
Of the nearly 5,000 people who took part in the survey, 52 percent said public safety should be the primary focus of delinquency courts while 84 percent agreed rehabilitation was imperative due to the defendants’ young age. Sixty percent of respondents said children should not face trial and sentencing at the same level adults do “because they are less emotionally and cognitively mature.”
“The youth criminal justice system is based on the principle youth are presumed to be less morally blameworthy than adults,” the report reads. “It acknowledges youth should be held accountable differently than adults given their lack of maturity and greater level of dependency.”
While the majority of respondents agreed youth aged 12-17 should be held accountable for their crimes differently than adults, the vote was split when it came to young adults aged 18 to 21.
Women as well as younger respondents were more likely than men and older respondents to agree that young adults should not be treated the same as older adults because of “their lack of maturity.”
“These results suggest there is public support for a different and separate legal system to govern criminal cases involving youth,” the authors say.
Respondents were less understanding when it comes to repeat offenders or those who commit violent crimes, however, with 73 percent saying they should be sentenced.
Statistics Canada, in a report this summer, listed 932 charges last year under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, down from 1,035 the previous year.
