When a person is charged with a criminal offence and is under the age of 18, he or she is considered to be a young person, and is accordingly, treated differently. Offences for young persons often range from the less serious types of charges such as shoplifting and mischief to the more serious charges of assaults and robberies.
The laws governing young persons have a different focus. The goal of the Youth Criminal Justice Act is to guide young persons into adulthood by rehabilitating them and reintegrating them into society by impressing upon them the meaningful consequences of their actions. The criminal justice system for young persons is separate and distinct from that of adults and emphasizes these principles of rehabilitation and reintegration. It provides enhanced procedural protection to ensure that young persons are treated fairly and that their rights are protected.
There are many ways in which a case where a young person is charged with an offence can be taken out of the criminal justice system through a form of diversion. Our experience in handling thousands of these types of cases can benefit and protect a young person's legal interests for the future. Our cases are often diverted out of the system and the charges either withdrawn or stayed.
At Peel Criminal Lawyer, we strive to ensure that the special guarantees of a young person's rights and freedoms are protected. We have the knowledge and experience in the application of these special laws, legal interpretations, procedures, and customs.
