Sociology 2267A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: World Forum For Harmonization Of Vehicle Regulations, Best Interests, Youth Empowerment
31 Aug 2020
School
Department
Course
Professor
SOC 2267 650
Week 1: Lesson 1 - Key Challenges in Hearing the Voice of Youth in the Youth Justice System
Learning Objectives
• Understand the difference between what works and what does not work for youth-at-
risk programming
• Understand the principles behind a separate system of justice for youth
• Understand the challenges faced by youth with complex needs in the youth criminal
justice system
• Understand the importance of recognizing the articles of the UN Convention on the
Rights of the Child in hearing the voice of youth in all matters
• Consider how young persons in conflict with the law may contribute to their own
rehabilitation and reintegration through supportive adult-youth relationships
Introduction
• There have been positive developments in the juvenile justice policy field
• There are challenges that are still ahead in the attempt to determine the most
appropriate means of intervening in the lives of troubled youth
The Legal Regulation of Childhood and Adolescence
• The law that regulates criminal conduct for children and youth is based on a binary
system, where the state focuses on the protection of children until such time as they
cross the threshold, known as the age of majority, to adulthood
◦ Problem wit binary system, which focuses on immature children and competent
adults, is that there is no way to include evolving capacities of children as they
mature in adolescence
• Youth justice:
◦ Separate and distinct criminal justice system that explicitly meets unique needs
of young people
• Best interests of the child doctrine:
◦ When the interests of a young person are paramount in decision-making
regarding his or her experience in the criminal justice system
• Adulteration
◦ Dismantling of distinct system of criminal justice for youth and remerging with
systems of justice for adults
• Increased criminal justice processing of youth runs counter to reduction of youth crime
The Codification of a Separate System of Youth Justice in Canada
• International treaties and conventions bearing on the legal rights of children and youth
that Canada agreed to:
◦ The UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Youth Justice, known
as the Beijing Rules (1985)
• Includes recognition of special needs of young people, that custody
should be last resort, and that proceedings should be anonymous to
protect child from lifelong stigma or labelling
Document Summary
Week 1: lesson 1 - key challenges in hearing the voice of youth in the youth justice system. Rights of the child in hearing the voice of youth in all matters: consider how young persons in conflict with the law may contribute to their own rehabilitation and reintegration through supportive adult-youth relationships. Introduction: there have been positive developments in the juvenile justice policy field, there are challenges that are still ahead in the attempt to determine the most appropriate means of intervening in the lives of troubled youth. Increased criminal justice processing of youth runs counter to reduction of youth crime. The codification of a separate system of youth justice in canada. International treaties and conventions bearing on the legal rights of children and youth that canada agreed to: the un standard minimum rules for the administration of youth justice, known as the beijing rules (1985)
