LAWS 3307 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Parens Patriae, Impulsivity, Royal Assent
Document Summary
Adolescence and the rationales for a youth justice system. All legal systems treat children and youth differently than adults, and recognize that they should not be held accountable the same way as adults. There is a decreased accountability for youth in the criminal system. Ho(cid:449)e(cid:448)e(cid:396), the(cid:396)e is a sig(cid:374)ifi(cid:272)a(cid:374)t diffe(cid:396)e(cid:374)(cid:272)e f(cid:396)o(cid:373) (cid:272)ou(cid:374)t(cid:396)y to (cid:272)ou(cid:374)t(cid:396)y a(cid:271)out the defi(cid:374)itio(cid:374) of (cid:862)(cid:272)hild(cid:863) a(cid:374)d (cid:862)youth(cid:863) a(cid:374)d ho(cid:449) they a(cid:396)e t(cid:396)eated diffe(cid:396)e(cid:374)tly tha(cid:374) adults. Obviously adults have more privileges than youth. Canadian law recognizes 3 distinct phases of criminal accountability: childhood (under age of 12) no criminal accountability, youth (12-17) limited accountability under ycja, adult (18+) full legal accountability. The rationale for this is that it is a fundamental principle of criminal law that: We punish only for blameworthy behaviour (i. e. there must be a mens rea) There is a diminished responsibility in the case of youths (youth are not always held responsible for their actions)
