Services for young offenders
The Director of Youth Protection also serves as the provincial director. Their mandate is the application of the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA). This law applies to adolescents aged 12 to 17 who are accused of a criminal offence. It requires young people to take responsibility for their actions while encouraging their social reintegration. The involvement of parents is strongly encouraged.
Service requests come from criminal and penal prosecuting attorneys (PPCP) and judges of the Youth Division.
Youth delegates enforce this law on behalf of the provincial director. Their individualized intervention aims to stop young people’s delinquent behaviour and prevent them from reoffending, that is to say:
- to hold them accountable for the acts they are accused of;
- to promote their social reintegration;
- to protect the public.
Youth delegates use various programs and clinical tools to respond to the specific needs of young people. They work closely with alternative justice organizations, police officers and prosecutors from the PPCP. Delegates intervene mainly in the context of extrajudicial sanctions, pre-sentence reports and sentence follow-ups.
To learn more about extrajudicial sanctions and how to avoid a trial.