
News article
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg
OzP0QqsRg&feature=related
The steps involved when a young person
enters the justice system.
 The type of justice that the system
determines will best meet the needs of the
young offender, the victim and the
community.
 The advantages and disadvantages of the
YCJA and areas that, in your opinion,
should be changed.
 The ways in which the justice system is fair
and equitable when dealing with young
offenders.

This activity will introduce the ideas of
fairness, equity and justice.
 In small groups of three or four, you will roleplay an ending to the scenario on page 56
(paragraph 1) of the textbook.
 Your ending should demonstrate:

› An understanding of the
viewpoints/perspectives of the people involved;
› What you think would be a fair and equitable
conclusion.

What challenges and opportunities did
you encounter when deciding on a fair
and equitable conclusion?
Why do you believe justice
is often portrayed as blind?

Justice must treat everyone equal. Justice must
not be prejudice based on how someone looks
act in the court room.
11
words
word
definition
example
• Since this was a first offence,
and it was relatively minor
with no one being physically
hurt, it’s better that the
offender not be tagged with
a criminal record if she can
learn from the experience
and recognize the
consequences of her actions.
• The consequences of
community service were
commensurate with the crime
and it did some good for the
daycare.
• It was fair from the victim’s
perspective as the offence
was minor and the stolen
goods were likely recovered.
That doesn’t take away from
the trauma or violation the
victim may have
experienced.
• The offender might have
been charged had she not
acknowledged what she had
done and admitted that it
was wrong. That could have
led to a criminal record.
• The decision would depend
on how well the perpetrator
honoured the conditions of
the sentences.

Complete a flow chart using a
computer.
Page
61
What consequences do young people face when they
break the law?
Page 65
?
Girl
Stole from
department
store
Police
officer
?
?
Graffiti activity
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What aspects of the girl in the cartoons experience would you
say are most important in evaluating the fairness and equity of the
justice system for youth?
In your opinion, what factor had the biggest impact on this young
offender’s change of attitude? Why? What life lessons can you
learn from her story?
Why do you think a separate justice system is needed for young
offenders?
How would a criminal record affect your quality of life? How
might it affect your identity?
If you do something wrong, how important is it to receive
consequences quickly? Why? How important is it to make up for
wrong actions that affect others?
Questions to think about when completing
chart:
What aspects of her experience would
you say are most important in evaluating
the fairness and equity of the justice
system for youth?
Recognition that what she did could have led to a far more serious
consequences, such as jail time and a criminal record.
 Had she received a criminal record, many of the rights most of use
take for granted, such as being able to travel to other countries,
would be taken away.
 Life lessons include being aware of consequences of your actions.
One seemingly small mistake can have repercussions for a lifetime.
 Life lessons include wondering if you can recover the relationships
you have with your parents and friends. Will they be able to trust
you again?

Why do you think a separate justice
system is needed for young offenders?
Young people do not understand what they are doing in the same
way that adults do. They may not have the same knowledge base
and experience.
 Putting young people in jail or prison with older criminals does not
help them change for the better. It not only jeopardizes their wellbeing, but can lead to their acquiring habits that would make them
poor risks (offenders) as adults.

How would a criminal record affect your quality of life? How might it
affect your identity?
 A criminal record can permanently bar you from some jobs,
volunteer positions, and travel to some countries.
 A criminal record can permanently bar you from some jobs,
volunteer positions, and travel to some countries.
 Some people may not want to be my friends if I had a criminal
record.
 I might think of myself as less worthy, less important – as someone
with a criminal record.
Canadians are more concerned about
rehabilitating young offenders than
punishing them.
 Justice can involve many other
professionals, not just the police, lawyers
and judges. Others, such as social
workers, mental health workers, Elders
and community volunteers, can design
programs that will help to rehabilitate
young people.

If I don’t receive consequences quickly, I might forget why I am
being punished. Also, other people may think it wasn’t fair that I
“got away with it”.
 The right consequences, determined within a reasonable time, may
stop me from hurting others in the future.

I agree that the wrong I did to someone else should be dealt
with. I will have repaid a debt I owe to that person.
 When the time between offence and consequence is too long,
everyone loses. The offender has to wait and cannot get on
with his or her life, and neither can the victim.

Using a comparison chart
and page 64, compare the
similarities and differences
between adult justice and
youth justice.
YCJA
Criminal code
Deals with 12- to 17- year
olds in trouble with the law.
• Allows some young
offenders to face
consequences such as
counselling and community
service.
• Prohibits adult sentences
for youths 12 to 14 years of
age. Allows adult sentences
for young people 14 years of
age and older who have
committed serious crimes.
• Protects the privacy of
young offenders. News
media may not publish their
names unless they receive
an adult sentence.
• Allows most young
offenders to avoid a
criminal record.
• Deals with adults in trouble
with the law.
• Makes going to court the
usual consequence for
breaking the law.
• Defines adult sentences,
which can include long
periods of imprisonment for
some crimes.
• Allows the publication of
offenders’ names.
• Creates a criminal record
for most offenders.