ABSTRACT
The Canadian Youth Criminal Justice Act, which came into force in early 2003, contrasts sharply with the orientation of the previous legislation (the Young Offenders Act 2003) in several ways. Among these are the institutionalisation of a police officer’s discretionary power, the increased participation of victims and families, the assumption that extra judicial measures are effective in improving the levels of responsibility among youth, and the use of the civil community through justice committees and consultative groups. The purpose of this chapter is to examine the new law while relating it to the concept of restorative justice and other youth justice reforms in western countries. In particular, the chapter examines whether the Act is affected significantly by trends in restorative justice and the consequences for the future of the restorative justice movement, particularly in Canada.
