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A Strategy for the Renewal of Youth Justice
Conclusion
Developing a fair and effective youth justice system that protects the public and encourages youth to become law-abiding adults is a challenge for all Canadians and all levels of government. Canadians share a commitment to certain fundamental principles in this area: safe communities; fair and effective justice systems; and the healthy development of children and youth. By working together, differences can be bridged to achieve a youth justice system consistent with our shared values and objectives.
Now is the time to adopt a multifaceted, co-operative strategy for the renewal of youth justice to protect the public. Statutory reforms should ensure that youth experience meaningful consequences for their crimes, but efforts must also be made to improve the chances of successful rehabilitation and reintegration of youth as constructive members of their communities.
Legislation alone, however, is not enough to address youth crime, and the proposed changes to our youth justice legis-lation represent only one part of our comprehensive renewal of youth justice. The multifaceted approach set out in this document will also provide immediate and longer-term responses to youth crime by building links to community-based youth crime prevention programs and to initiatives that address the root causes of criminal behaviour.
The renewal of youth justice is both a great challenge and an opportunity to realize shared objectives for justice and youth.
