Youth Justice Initiative

The Department of Justice is responsible for the Youth Justice Initiative. The objectives of the Youth Justice Initiative are to:

• encourage a fair and effective youth justice system;
• respond to emerging youth justice issues; and
• enable greater citizen/community participation in the youth justice system.

The Youth Justice and Strategic Initiatives Section (YJSIS) provides ongoing interpretation and development of youth justice policy and monitors and analyzes the implementation of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the law that applies to young people aged 12 to17 who come into conflict with the law. The YJSIS is also responsible for other activities, such as knowledge-sharing and research, that meet the objectives of the Youth Justice Initiative.

The Department of Justice also administers the Youth Justice Fund, a federal grants and contributions program, and the Youth Justice Services Funding Program, which provides financial support to provinces and territories for the delivery of programs and services to youth in conflict with the law. Additionally, the Department funds provinces and territories for the delivery of the Intensive Rehabilitative Custody and Supervision (IRCS) Program which provides specialized resources for the assessment and treatment of serious violent young offenders with mental health issues.

Contact us at:

Youth Justice and Strategic Initiatives Section
360 Albert Street, 14^th floor
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0H8

Email: webadmin@justice.gc.ca