NCJ Number
107711
Journal
Canadian Journal of Criminology Volume: 29 Issue: 4 Dated: (October 1987) Pages: 421-430
Date Published
1987
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Two studies examined the impact of the 1984 Young Offenders Act (YOA) on court disposition in Ontario, Canada.
Abstract
The first examined court dispositions of 3,944 cases heard under the Juvenile Delinquents Act (JDA) in 1983 and 7,393 cases disposed under the YOA in 1984 and 1985. Results indicate that committals to open or secure custody were high under the YOA in comparison to committals to training school under the JDA. Although victim reconciliation or community service orders increased significantly under the YOA, needs-based psychological assessment requests remained low. The second study of pre-YOA and post-YOA dispositions of 284 youth referred to a court clinic indicates that judges expressed more concern for family problems under the JDA and for possible emotional disorders under the YOA. Under the JDA, 4.2 percent of clinic clients were committed to a custodial center, as compared to 14.3 percent so referred under the YOA. Results suggest that in the context of the competing philosophies underlying the YOA, deterrence through punishment as a means of juvenile crime control has become a popular concept. 2 tables and 21 references.