Perceptions of third party involvement in the youth criminal justice system

The YCJA encourages the involvement of the youth’s parents, the victim and the community when addressing the youth’s offending behaviour. They can be involved during the implementation of extrajudicial measures,Footnote 8 the youth’s rehabilitation and reintegration process into the community, and more generally during any other type of court proceedings in which the youth is involved (YCJA, s. 3(1)c) and d)). Respondents were asked if they agree with giving these groups the opportunity to be involved in the process when dealing with a youth involved in the YCJA. Responses were measured on a five-point scale, from one (1) meaning “Strongly disagree” to five (5) meaning “Strongly agree.”

Overall, two-thirds of respondents (66%) agreedFootnote 9 that the youth’s family should be involved. Racialized people (70%)–specifically Latinx (74%) and South Asian and Southeast Asian people (73% each)–were more inclined to agree with this statement, compared with White people (65%). People who were not born in Canada (72%) were more likely to agree with this statement compared with those who were born in Canada (64%).

Most respondents (66%) agreed that the victim or the victim’s family should be involved in the process. Racialized people (70%)–specifically South Asian (76%) and Southeast Asian people (73%)–were more likely than White people (64%) to agree with this statement. People who were not born in Canada (71%) were more likely to agree with this statement compared with those who were born in Canada (64%).

Over half (54%) of respondents agreed that members of the youth’s community should be involved. However, Indigenous people (58%)–specifically Inuit (77%) and Métis people (59%)–as well as racialized groups (63%), were more likely than White people (52%) to agree that the community should be involved in the process. People who were not born in Canada (62%) were more likely to agree with this statement compared with those who were born in Canada (52%).