Toronto Criminal Lawyers Regularly Defending the Rights of Young Offenders

People aged 12 to 17 who are accused of crimes fall under the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA). This legislation is significantly different than the criminal legislation that applies to adults, so if your son or daughter has been accused of a crime, it is critical that you choose a lawyer who is familiar with these unique cases.

The Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) Provides Young People with Special Rights and Focuses on Rehabilitation and Reintegration

The YCJA recognizes special rights for young people that must be respected by police and Crown attorneys. For example, the YCJA requires that any statement made by a young person to the police must be made in the presence of the young person’s lawyer and a parent or another appropriate adult chosen by the young person, unless the young person specifically states otherwise. If the police have taken a statement without respecting these rights, the lawyers at Hicks Adams can argue that the statement should not be admitted at trial.

The YCJA is designed to keep kids out of the court process and out of jail. It provides for a number of extrajudicial or alternative measures that allow young people to repair the harm that has been done without proceeding through the court process. It also states that young people are not to be sent to jail except in exceptional circumstances, where the court determines there are no reasonable alternatives to jail. Furthermore, the YCJA has a strong focus on rehabilitating and reintegrating young people back into society.

Our Knowledgeable Toronto Lawyers can help get Children’s Lives Back on Track

The lawyers at Hicks Adams possess more than a century of combined experience. Every day, we use that experience to defend children and adults alike against criminal charges. Along the way, we have built a strong record of positive results.

Our lawyers are very familiar with the wide range of outcomes available in young offender cases. We work with the police and Crown attorney to find ways to avoid charges, have charges dropped and keep our young clients out of jail. We develop creative solutions to minimize the impact involvement with the police and/or court system has on our young clients. Furthermore, our lawyers can connect kids to the many resources and programs available to help them to get their lives back on track.

Contact Hicks Adams for a Free Young Offender Defence Consultation

Our experienced Toronto criminal defence lawyers are ready to protect the rights of young people and to keep them out of the court system and out of jail. Call us at 416-975-1700 or contact us online for a free consultation.