The Young Offender's Act: The Past, Present, And Future

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Juvenile Delinquent's Act was the predecessor of the Young
Offenders Act. It was adopted in 1908 by the federal government. Its
purpose was to change the old system of trying children as adults and
holding them over for as long as the crown wanted to. They then decided to
treat the children as "misguided" ones, instead of criminals. Although
good intentions were meant in the act, there were extremely few guidelines
and the kids were given a variety of punishments for one offense. There
was little fairness in the end and they ended up being treated like adults.

During the 1960's, the child-saving movement began and there was a
constant demand for the Juvenile Delinquent's Act to be reformed. People
were complaining of too much unfairness, corrupt judges, and poor
sentencing techniques. The House of Commons took it into their own hands
and decided to debate over the topic of a new amendment for the Juvenile
Delinquent's Act. For almost two decades, the debating was furious ...

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of the Young Offenders Act is that it only
covers federal offenses under criminal code. All other offenses are
carried out in a provincial youth court. That is a good thing about the
Young Offenders Act, all offenses are dealt with in youth court and not
adult court. There is much controversy over youths being sent to adult
court for their punishments. They would get tried too harshly and wouldn't
get treated fairly. They would end up getting sent to adult prisons were
they could be sexually assaulted, beaten up, or could possibly get killed.
They now get sent to a juvenile detention facility that is a friendlier
environment where the kids also get an education.
There are many ...

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