Released on October 29, 1998
Provincial Children's Advocates expressed concern over the proposedchanges to the Young Offenders Act at a national meeting held last
week. The meeting of the Canadian Council of Provincial Children's
Advocates was held in Edmonton, October 21 to 24, 1998, and focused on
developing effective ways to assist children and youth, particularly
youth in conflict with the law. Following this meeting, the
Children's Advocates, representing six provinces in Canada, are urging
Federal, Provincial and Territorial Justice Ministers, who are meeting
in Regina today, to focus on positive ways to enhance youth justice in
Canada.
The Provincial Children's Advocates believe that the proposed changes
to the Young Offenders Act do not go far enough in addressing the core
issues that cause youth crime. Prevention and community-based
sentencing must be prioritized. Continued focus on the small number
of youth committing "serious, violent and repeat offences" does not
address the issues that lead youth to involvement in crime. Such
issues include poverty, abuse, youth unemployment, and the need for
better services for at-risk youth. Proposed changes such as imposing
adult sentences on children as young as 14 years will not build the
necessary skills that will assist youth in becoming contributing
members of society. Greater emphasis must be placed on rehabilitation
rather than more custody and control that permanently label and
entrench youth in the justice system. Rehabilitation provides
greater public safety and greater cost effectiveness than
continual use of incarceration.
The Advocates feel that the perception of public protection
appears to be the focus of the proposed changes more than the
actual protection of citizens. Information about youth courts
and corrections demonstrate that there are consequences for youth
who break the law. Canada has the highest rate of youth
incarceration in the Western world, over twice the rate of the
United States (John Howard Society, 1996). Saskatchewan has the
highest rate of incarceration of youth aged 12 - 17 and the
highest youth criminal charge rate per hundred thousand of any
jurisdiction in Canada (1995).
"The public deserves to know the real facts about youth and
crime", stated Judy Finlay, Chief Advocate, Office of Child and
Family Service Advocacy in Ontario. "Actual statistics do not
support the public's perception of increased youth crime." 1997
Canadian Crime Statistics (Juristat, Canadian Centre for Justice
Statistics) indicate that:
In 1997, Canada's police-reported crime rate decreased for the
sixth year in a row, falling 5% - the lowest rate since 1980.
Violent crimes declined for the fifth consecutive year.
The rate of youths charged with Criminal Code offenses fell 7%
- representing a 12% decrease in property crime and a 2%
decrease in violent offences.
Adult crime represents 71.5% of all Criminal Code, federal and
provincial statutes charges and 83.8% of violent crime charges
in Canada.
While recognizing the need for public safety, changes to the
Young Offenders Act must include options to assist young people
in taking meaningful responsibility for their actions.
Alternative sentencing options need to be provided that promote
responsible citizenship and reduce recidivism rates.
"We must remember that a high percentage of young people who
commit crimes are themselves victims. They have been repeatedly
victimized by poverty, neglect, physical or sexual abuse, and
exposure to family violence," stated Dr. Parker Loewen,
Children's Advocate for the Province of Saskatchewan. "These
children and youth are experiencing difficulty because we, as a
society, have failed to address their problems earlier in life."
Through the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child,
Canada committed to promoting programs respecting the dignity of
children and youth. The justice system must ensure that adequate
resources are available for prevention programs and for the
treatment and rehabilitation of children who come in conflict
with the law.
The Canadian Council of Provincial Children's Advocates is an
informal association of Provincial Advocates representing the
provinces of Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and
British Columbia. The Council is dedicated to the voice and
rights of children.
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For more information, please contact:
Sharon Chapman
Communications and Public Education Coordinator
Saskatchewan Children's Advocate Office
Phone: (306) 933-6706 Fax: (306) 933-8406