Why does the YCJA provide for extrajudicial measures?
Measures outside the court process can provide effective responses to less serious youth crime. For example, a police warning to a minor first offcence may be determined to be a sufficient reprimand and a deterent to further offences. What principles govern the use of extrajudicial measures? Section 4 of the YCJA sets out the principles that should be considered when using extrajudicial measures. Extrajudicial measures: • Are often the most appropriate and effective way to address youth crime. • Allow for effective and timely interventions focused on correcting offending behaviour. • Are presumed to be adequate to hold a young person accountable if the young person has committed a non-violent offence and has not previously been found guilty of an offence. • Should be used in all cases where they are adequate to hold a young person accountable, even if the young person has previously been dealt with by extrajudicial measures or has previously been found guilty of an offence, as long as
