The Impact of the Youth Criminal Justice Act on Case Flow in Alberta and System Response in Calgary Executive Summary
Date
2008-09-01
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Canadian Research Institute for Law and the Family.
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to examine how the implementation of the YCJA has affected the flow of cases through the youth justice system, and the impact of the new legislation on workload for frontline staff in the youth justice system (i.e., police officers, probation officers). To achieve this goal, two main research activities were undertaken. First, CRILF examined the flow of cases processed through the youth justice system in Alberta from 2001 through 2006. This examination provides information on whether the youth system is adhering to the principles of diversion, fair sentencing and the reduction of incarceration mandated in the YCJA. Second, focus groups with police officers were conducted to identify the use of extrajudicial measures that would not be captured in the youth crime and correctional statistics and the effect of the new legislation on their work and workload. Focus groups were also conducted with probation officers to obtain information on changes in their workload patterns and their opinions on the success of rehabilitation and reintegration since the implementation of the YCJA. Participants of the focus groups were further asked to assess the current legislation's effectiveness in achieving its objectives and to provide suggestions for improvement to the current youth criminal justice system.
Description
Keywords
Citation
DeGusti, B. (2008). The Impact of the Youth Criminal Justice Act on Case Flow in Alberta and System Response in Calgary - Executive Summary. Calgary, AB: Canadian Research Institute for Law and the Family.