Young Offenders & the Criminal Justice System

Learners will analyze the nature, prevalence, characteristics, and consequences of youth crime in Canada through an overview of the political, social, legal, and criminological issues associated with youth crime in Canada. The historical development of Canada?s juvenile justice and child protection systems are examined, as well as the legal framework established by the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Learners will review this statute in detail and in relation to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and various other international human rights standards. Learners will also examine the objectives pursued by the criminal justice system in relation to prevailing scientific and popular explanations of juvenile deviance and delinquency. The relative effectiveness of the youth justice system in preventing and responding to crime is also considered. The compounding effects of each branch of the criminal justice system and their interaction with young offenders will be compared and contrasted. (Formerly BLES412)

This course is only open to students who have been admitted to the Bachelor of Law Enforcement Studies. Please see the BLES program page for more information, and for instructions on how to apply to the program.