Infographic: Use of Adult Sentences for Youth Offenders, 2023

Key findings from the 2023 National Justice Survey^{Footnote 1}

What is the National Justice Survey?

The National Justice Survey (NJS) is an annual national public opinion research study conducted by Justice Canada, collecting the views, perceptions and knowledge of people living in Canada on important justice-related issues.

Youth who commit a criminal offence are typically sentenced under the youth criminal justice system (CJS), which is fundamentally different from the adult system. Respondents were asked under which circumstances, if any, should youth found guilty of an offence be given an adult sentence.^{Footnote 2}

Graph – Respondents agreement with circumstances under which youth found guilty of an offence be given an adult sentence, 2023

About two-thirds of respondents said the courts should consider giving an adult sentence to a youth if they are found guilty of committing murder, and similarly, about two-thirds of respondents indicated if the youth is a repeat violent offender.

• They commit murder = 65%
• They are repeat violent offenders = 66%

12% of respondents said the courts should never give an adult sentence to a youth.

Black people (56% for murder and 52% for repeat violent offenders), Middle Eastern or North African people (44% for repeat violent offenders only) and Latinx people (56% for repeat violent offenders only) were less likely to agree with these two circumstances (i.e., for murder and repeat violent offenders) than White people (66% and 67%, respectively).

Graph - Respondents agreement with limitations placed on adult sentences given to youth, by gender, 2023

Just over half of respondents agreed certain limitations should be placed on adult sentences given to youth (e.g., forbid life sentences), with women being more likely to agree than men.

• Women = 56%
• Men = 50%
• Disagree = 20%
• Neither agree or disagree = 24%
• Agree = 53%

East Asian/Southeast Asian people were less likely to agree(46%) than White people (54%).

Respondents from Quebec were more likely to agree than respondents from other regions, except for the Territories.

• British Colombia = 50%*
• Prairies = 47%*
• Territories = 64%^
• Ontario = 54%*
• Quebec (ref.) = 60%
• Atlantic = 47%*

^ Caution: Small sample size (≤50). Statistical testing not performed when n<30 since statistical assumptions are not met.

* Symbol indicates a significant difference from the reference group (Quebec) at p < .05.

Graph - Respondents agreement with a process to periodically review the case of a youth case that has received an adult sentence, by gender and by age groups, 2023

About three-quarters of respondents agreed that when youth receive an adult sentence, there should be a process in place to periodically review the case to ensure it is still appropriate.

Women were more likely to agree with this statement than men, as well as younger respondents in comparison to older respondents.

• All = 74%
• Women = 78%*
• Men = 70%
• 18 to 34 years (ref.) = 79%
• 35 to 54 years = 73%**
• 55 years and older = 72%**

* Symbol indicates a significant difference from the reference category (men) at p < .05.

** Symbol indicates a significant difference from the reference category (18 to 34 years old) at p < .05.

Racialized people (77%)—particularly people with multiple ethno-cultural identities (87%)—were more likely to agree than White people (73%).

Respondents from British Columbia and Ontario were more likely to agree than respondents from the Prairies.

• British Columbia = 78%*
• Prairies (ref.) = 70%
• Territories = 65%^
• Ontario = 76%*
• Quebec = 75%
• Atlantic = 71%

* Symbol indicates a significant difference from the reference category (Prairies) at p < .05.

Graph - Respondents agreement on youth offenders aged 14 to 15 years old, or 16 to 17 years old, receiving an adult sentence, by racialized identity, 2023

Respondents were asked about a youth case’s eligibility to receive an adult sentence if the young person is 14 or 15 years of age, and if the young person is 16 or 17 years of age.

More than one-third of respondents agreed youth aged 14 or 15 years old should not be eligible to receive an adult sentence because of their level of maturity, while this proportion decreased to one-fifth in the case of youth aged 16 or 17 years old.

• Total population, 14 to 15 years = 36%
• Total population, 16 to 17 years = 21%
• Total racialized groups, 14 to 15 years = 38%
• Total racialized groups, 16 to 17 years = 24%*
• Black, 14 to 15 years = 49%*
• Black, 16 to 17 years = 32%*
• South Asian, 14 to 15 years = 39%
• South Asian, 16 to 17 years = 27%*
• Middle Eastern or North African, 14 to 15 years = 47%*
• Middle Eastern or North African, 16 to 17 years = 27%*
• White, 14 to 15 years (ref.) = 36%
• White, 16 to 17 years (ref.) = 19%

Black people and Middle Eastern or North African people were more likely to agree than White people that youth from both age groups should not be eligible to receive an adult sentence because of their maturity level.^{Footnote 3}

* Symbol indicates a significant difference from the reference category (White) at p < .05.

Graph - Respondents agreement on youth offenders aged 16 or 17 years old receiving an adult sentence, by Indigenous identity, 2023

Indigenous people—particularly First Nations people and those with multiple Indigenous identities—were more likely to agreethan White people that youth aged 16 or 17 years old should not be eligible to receive an adult sentence because of their maturity level.^{Footnote 4}

• Total Indigenous identity = 25%*
• First Nations = 27%*
• Multiple Indigenous identities = 29%*
• White (ref.) = 19%

* Symbol indicates a significant difference from the reference category (White) at p < .05.

Source: 2023 National Justice Survey, https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/jr/njs-snj.html