• Provides a clear statement of goal and principles underlying the Act and youth justice system.
• Includes specific principles to guide the use of extrajudicial measures, the imposition of a sentence and custody.

• Does not identify the principal goal of the system; contains inconsistent and competing principles.
• Contains some of the same themes as the YCJA.
• Is not supplemented by more specific principles at the various stages of the youth justice process.

• Creates a presumption that measures other than court proceedings should be used for a first, non-violent offence.
• Encourages their use in all cases where they are sufficient to hold a young person accountable.
• Encourages the involvement of families, victims and community members.

• Allows the use of measures other than court proceedings (alternative measures) but does not create a presumption that they should be used for minor offences.

Youth sentences

• Includes specific principles, including need for proportionate sentences and importance of rehabilitation.

• Custody reserved for violent or repeat offences.
• All custody sentences to be followed with a period of supervision in the community.
• New options added to encourage use of non-custody sentences and support reintegration.
• Creation of intensive custody and supervision order for serious violent offenders.

• Included in general principles; sometimes inconsistent and competing principles.

• No restriction on use of custody.
• No requirement for community supervision following custody.
• Does not provide for YCJA options like reprimand, intensive support and supervision or custody and supervision order for serious violent offenders.

• Youth justice court empowered to impose an adult sentence, eliminating transfer to adult court.
• Age limit for presumption of adult sentences for the most serious offences is lowered to 14 (however, provinces will have increased flexibility in regard to the age at which this presumption will apply within their jurisdiction).
• The most serious offences that carry a presumption of an adult sentence are extended to include pattern of serious, repeat, violent offences.
• The Crown can renounce the application of the presumption of adult sentence. In this case, the judge who finds the young person guilty has to impose a youth sentence.

• Lengthy transfer hearing prior to trial that takes place in adult court without special procedural protections granted for youth.
• Age limit for the presumption of adult sentence is 16.
• Offences that carry a presumption of an adult sentence are murder, attempted murder, manslaughter and aggravated sexual offence only.
• The Crown cannot renounce the application of the presumption of an adult sentence.

• Permitted if an adult sentence is imposed; or if a youth sentence is imposed for an offence that carries a presumption of adult sentence, unless the judge decides publication is inappropriate.
• Permitted only after the young person has been found guilty.

• Permitted only if a youth is transferred to adult court to be sentenced as an adult.
• Permitted before the youth is found guilty.

• Concerns of victims are recognized in principles of the Act.
• Victims have right to access youth court records and may be given access to other records.
• Role in formal and informal community-based measures is encouraged.
• Establishes right of victims to information on extrajudicial measures taken.

• No mention of victims in principles.
• Victims may be given access to records.
• No recognition of victims' role in the process other than the right to produce a victim's impact statement.
• No right of victims to information on alternative measures taken.

• Can be admitted into evidence, despite minor, technical irregularities in complying with the statutory protections for young persons.

• Any minor violation of statutory protections prevents a statement from being admitted into evidence.

• Allows advisory groups or "conferences" to advise police officer, judge or other decision-maker under the Act.
• They can advise on appropriate extrajudicial measures, conditions for release from pretrial detention, appropriate sentences and reintegration plans.
• Conferences may include parents of the young person, victim, community agencies or professionals.

• No provision.

• All custody sentences comprise a portion served in custody and a portion served under supervision in the community.
• A plan for reintegration in the community must be prepared for each youth in custody.
• Reintegration leaves may be granted for up to 30 days.

• No requirement that there be supervised reintegration after custody.
• No requirement to plan reintegration during custody.
• Temporary leaves may be granted for up to 15 days.