Publishing identifying information of youth by police in urgent situations

Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA), publishing a youth’s (aged 12 to 17) name or any information that could identify them as being involved in the youth criminal justice system is strictly prohibited. This rule is subject to very limited exceptions. Publishing identifying information can harm the youth whose information is made public, including by hindering their rehabilitation and by creating lasting stigma. Publication bans help promote public safety in the long-term by supporting a youth’s ability to rehabilitate and reintegrate back into society.

Recent changes to publication bans

On June 15, 2026, changes to the publication ban provisions came into force to better respond to urgent situations where a youth poses an imminent danger to the public. Police officers may now publish identifying information without a court order in urgent situations where there are reasonable grounds to believe the youth has committed or is likely to commit a serious criminal offence (referred to as an “indictable offence”). Identifying information can include the name and image or picture of a youth. These types of publications should only be used by police in rare situations where there is immediate danger to the public and delays in seeking a court order could cause serious harm.

Publishing identifying information about a youth: with a court order vs. urgent situations without a court order
Publication of identifying information about a youth with a court order Police publication of identifying information about a youth without a court order in urgent situations
  • A peace officerFootnote 1 may make an application to the youth justice court for an order permitting the publication of a youth’s identifying information; this application can be made without giving notice to the other party
  • The order can be made where a youth committed or allegedly committed an indictable offence
  • The youth justice court judge must be satisfied that:
    1. there is reason to believe that the youth is a danger to others
    2. the publication is needed to assist in apprehending the youth
  • An order can only allow publication for 5 days
  • A police officerFootnote 2 may publish identifying information about a youth without a court order in exceptional circumstances, if they have reasonable grounds to believe:
    1. the youth committed or is likely to commit an indictable offence
    2. the situation is urgent and publication is needed for all the following reasons:
      • the youth is an imminent danger to the public
      • the publication could help prevent serious bodily harm or death
      • the publication is needed to assist in apprehending the youth, and
      • a court order could not reasonably be obtained
  • Police need a court order to continue publishing the youth’s information for more than 24 hours

Who can publish a youth’s identity without a court order

Only police officers may publish a youth’s identifying information without a court order in exceptional cases. Restricting this authority to police officers helps ensure that in urgent situations, information can be published without a court order only when it meets strict criteria and is handled with appropriate oversight. As a result, members of the public and media organizations are not permitted to publish this information.

Unauthorized publications

Under the YCJA, it is a criminal offence for anyone to publish the identity or other personal information of a youth without legal permission. This offence is punishable by up to 2 years imprisonment.

More information on publication bans

Under the YCJA, there are mandatory and automatic publication bans to protect identifying information about youth who come in contact with the criminal justice system. There are also publication bans to protect information that could identify young victims or witnesses of alleged offences or offences involving youth.

Learn more about publication bans for youth and their exceptions here: Publication Bans