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Information for Victims of Crimes Committed by Young People Victims: The Right to ParticipateThis Fact Sheet contains information about how the Youth Criminal Justice Act gives victims of youth crimes a voice by encouraging their involvement in the youth justice process. The guiding principle The right to information "Extrajudicial sanctions" - Extrajudicial sanctions may be used when the young person who committed the crime accepts responsibility for his or her actions and agrees to participate in an extrajudicial sanctions program. Since extrajudicial sanctions are arranged outside the courtroom, the law gives victims the right to know what has been decided and why. A victim of crime can ask a police officer, a prosecutor, a youth worker or a victims' assistance organization in the province or territory for the name of the young person who committed the crime and for information about how the justice system has dealt with that person. The information must be given to the victim when requested. The request must be made within two years of the day the young person agreed to extrajudicial sanctions. However, the victim of the crime cannot make public the name of the young person who committed the crime. The name is given to the victim on request so that he or she knows who is responsible for the crime, if this information was not already known. Court records - A victim of a crime committed by a young person has a right to see the court record on the case. A victim can ask to see the court record at any stage in the process. The victim may also request access to police and government records on the case but the law does not guarantee that these two types of records will be made available to the victim. Court appearances by the young person - The law says that a victim of crime should receive information whenever a court hearing concerning the young person accused of the crime takes place. The provincial and territorial governments will decide when and how this will be done. Opportunities to get involved
Privacy When the victim of a youth crime is under 18 years of age, the victim's identity cannot be published, except in very limited circumstances at the request of the victim or by court order. The Criminal Code also includes provisions to protect the identity of victims and witnesses in certain cases. Assistance for victims of crime Every province and territory has a victim assistance program to support victims of crime. These organizations provide victims with information about the criminal justice system. A police officer, prosecutor, court worker or anyone else involved in the criminal justice system can tell a victim how to get in touch with the local victim assistance program For more information, please visit the Youth Justice Renewal home page on the Department of Justice Canada Web site under
Programs and Services at
http://canada.justice.gc.ca or email Other Fact Sheets # 1 - Victims and the Youth Justice Process |
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Last Updated: 2005-10-20 | ![]() |
Important Notices |