Youth Criminal Defence

In Canada, the Youth Criminal Justice Act is a powerful piece of legislation that has been developed over decades to deal with the unique circumstances young people face who find themselves charged with a crime.

From the the very earliest stage of arrest, young people under the age of 18 have powerful rights that are provided to them. It is critical that a young person has a lawyer who is experienced and knowledgeable in the Youth Criminal Justice Act and can make sure all the advantages that are afforded in the Act are used.

The Youth Criminal Justice Act has provided powerful tools to accused at every stage of the criminal justice process. One of these tools is that the Police must provide the opportunity for the youthful accused to have his or her lawyer present for any police interviews. 

There are separate and powerful guidelines at the bail stage for youthful accused that heavily favour release rather than detention.

There is also a powerful and separate sentencing regime that compels the court to take into account the lesser moral culpability of a young person which recognizes the under developed brain of a young person.

With this powerful legislation at hand, it’s critical that the young person has a lawyer who has experience and a complete understanding of all the tools that the YCJA provides.

At Collett Read LLP we have a particular passion for defending youthful accused. Our team is ready to stand up for the rights of young people and make sure the court takes into account the unique set of circumstances that young people have.

Don’t be rushed into speaking to police, or to pleading guilty without speaking to one of our skilled lawyers first. A youth criminal record has the ability to derail the life of a young person, often unnecessarily. Contact us today for a free consultation.