Youth Justice Legislation

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A Chronology

1908 Juvenile Delinquents Act comes into force
Child welfare approach that included informal procedures and significant judicial discretion.

1984 Young Offenders Act comes into force
More emphasis on youth responsibility, society's right to be protected from illegal acts, special rights and needs of youth.

1986 Amendments to YOA
Contained a number of technical amendments relating to custodial placements.

1992 Amendments to YOA
Increased maximum length of sentences in youth court from three years to five years for murder andclarified rules for transferring youth to adult court.

1995 Amendments to YOA
Increased youth court maximum sentence for murder to ten years, created a presumption of transfer to adult court for 16- and 17-year olds charged with serious violent offences, allowed victim impact statements in youth court, and supported better information sharing among youth justice professionals.

August 1996 Federal-Provincial-Territorial Task Force on Youth Justice Report
Comprehensive review of the Act that resulted in recommendations on age limits, serious offenders, alternatives to the courts, transfers and sentencing. The Task Force report was referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs for consideration.

April 1997 Standing Commmittee on Justice and Legal Affairs Youth Justice Review Report
Comprehensive review of the youth justice system resulting in 14 recommendations on issues such as publication, serious offenders, transfer, minimum and maximum age.

August 1997 Meeting of First Ministers
Provincial and Territorial Premiers, with the exception of Quebec, called for "meaningful amendments to the Young Offenders Act" and committed to cooperate to improve preventive and rehabilitative programs for young offenders.

December 1997 Federal-Provincial-Territorial Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Justice
Ministers from Manitoba, Alberta, Ontario and Prince Edward Island proposed amendments to the YOA.

May 1998 Federal Youth Justice Strategy announced

March 1999
Bill C-68, the first version of the YCJA, is introduced in the House of Commons. Parliament prorogues in June.

October 1999
The bill is re-introduced as C-3 and makes it through second reading before a federal election call dissolves Parliament.

November 27, 2000
Federal election delays bill.

February 5, 2001
The bill is re-introduced as C-7.

February 19, 2002
YCJA receives Royal Assent.

April 1, 2003
YCJA comes into effect, replacing Young Offenders Act.