About youth justice services in Ontario

The Youth Criminal Justice Act is the legislation in Canada that deals with young people who break the law.

The legislation applies to young people who were 12 to 17 years old when the action they are accused of was committed.

When a young person breaks the law, police use the Youth Criminal Justice Act to decide what action they will take. A young person may be dealt with outside of the formal court process, or may be sent to court. A young person who is found guilty, will be given a sentence by the court.

In Ontario, the Ministry of Children and Youth Services provides programs and services for young people who:

• have been dealt with under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, or
• are at risk of breaking the law.

The ministry's programs and services:

• hold young people accountable for their actions
• provide opportunities for young people to make better choices
• provide services that address youths' issues and help them not to get into trouble with the law again
• help build safe communities and prevent crime.

The Ministry of the Attorney General is responsible for court processes for young people.

The Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services has responsibility for the police.

When the young person is dealt with outside of the formal court process

Extrajudicial Measures and Extrajudicial Sanctions

Youth in these programs take responsibility for their actions and develop skills to reduce the chance that they will get in trouble again. A young person might:

• get counselling to help deal with problems such as drug abuse
• volunteer in the community
• repair or pay for damaged or stolen property
• write an apology
• take a program such as anger management.

School-based Prevention/Diversion Programs

These programs are in schools across the province. They bring together community agencies, police and teachers to keep schools safe, respond to acting out behaviour, address youth issues and help youth in trouble stay in school.

Restorative Justice Programs

The youth, victims, the family and the community come together, with the help of trained adults, to talk about the harm done and how to repair it.

When a young person is found guilty

Community-based services

Probation

Youth who are sentenced to probation will continue to live in the community. Each young person is assigned a probation officer who:

• meets with the youth regularly
• develops a plan for the youth with the youth and the parents
• helps the youth stay out of trouble and meet his or her goals.

Community Service Order

Youth who are sentenced to Community Service are referred to an agency in the community. This agency develops and supervises a plan for the youth to take responsibility for her actions and contribute to the community.

Aboriginal Alternatives to Custody

These programs are designed, implemented and operated by Aboriginal agencies for Aboriginal youth. They provide meaningful programming that hold youth accountable and address the issues that young people may have that get them into trouble.

Attendance Centres: Youth Intervention Centres

Attendance Centres provide structured and supervised programming for young people in the community. Youth participate in programs for a specific amount of time that address their issues such as:

• anger management
• life skills
• substance abuse counselling
• employment or job search skills

Intensive Support and Supervision Programs

These programs are for youth who have serious mental health issues. In addition to addressing their specific issues, youth also receive specialized mental health care.

Custody services

Custody sentences are used by judges when other options are not enough. A youth will have a custody sentence for a specific length of time. A youth with a custody sentence may be sent to open custody or secure custody. Custody residences are located across the province.

Youth in custody take part in programming, such as:

• education
• counselling
• addiction counselling
• anger management
• life skills
• recreation
• cultural programs.