1. By the end of this chapter, you should be able to:  LO1 Describe the evolution of youth justice legislation in Canada  LO2 Describe the philosophy of the Youth Criminal Justice Act  LO3 Define extra-judicial measures and identify their significance in the Youth Criminal Justice Act  LO4 Identify the sentencing options available under the Youth Criminal Justice Act  LO5 Identify the rate of youth crime in Canada  LO6 Examine issues related to young female offenders, Aboriginal young offenders, and youth gangs in Canada Copyright 2013 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd. 1 LEARNING OBJECTIVES

2.  There are far fewer females in conflict with the law than males. The overall rate of female offending is one quarter that of males.  For female youths however, this number has been increasing.  The age of criminal activity peaks at age 15, where males peaks at age 17 Copyright 2013 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd. 2 FEMALE YOUNG OFFENDERS LO6

3.  Like adult Aboriginal persons, Aboriginal youth are over- represented in the criminal justice system.  The incarceration rate is 64.5 per 100,000 compared to the non- Aboriginal rate of 8.2 per 100,000 Copyright 2013 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd. 3 ABORIGINAL YOUTHS LO6

4.  All gang-related homicides are classified as first degree murder  In 2009, one in five homicides were gang- related  About half of youth gang members are under the age of 18 Copyright 2013 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd. 4 YOUTH GANGS IN CANADA LO6