There are lots of websites that can help you learn more about the Youth Justice System and related issues. Here we list a few of those resources for Youth, Parents and Professionals.
Web Resources for Youth
Young people don’t always know the real story about getting into trouble with the police and the consequences that can follow. They also don’t always know their rights in these kind of situations. These websites are aimed at helping young people understand more about the law, what their rights are and where they can go for help.
General websites
Explore the YJCA
www.ycja.ca
Website explains how the law relates to young people who commit crimes.
Legal Rights for Youth
www.legalrights4u.ca
Interactive series of videos showing scenarios to explain youth’s rights.
Click Law
www.clicklaw.bc.ca
Clicklaw is a website aimed at enhancing access to justice in British Columbia. It features legal information and education.
The Canadian Bar Association
www.cba.org/BC/public_media/youth/225.aspx
Explains briefly but clearly basic information about young people and the criminal law.
Community Legal Education Ontario
http://www.cleo.on.ca/english/pub/onpub/subject/yj.htm
Series of free pamphlets explaining topics around youth justice. These are resources from Ontario, but the content is still useful to people in BC.
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Court
Court Choices for Youth
www.courtchoices.ca
Educational information for BC youth about testifying in court.
The Canadian Bar Association – Youth Justice Court Trials
www.cba.org/BC/public_media/youth/226.aspx
Explains briefly but clearly basic information about the Youth Justice Court Trials.
Court Prep
www.courtprep.ca
Clear and informative interactive website showing a virtual courtroom and the justice process.
Youth Justice Court and You
www.ag.gov.bc.ca/courts/criminal/info/youth_court.htm
Ministry of Attorney General – information about the Youth Justice Court
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Gangs and Violence
Family Violence Youth Site
www.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/fv-vf/fvy-vfj/index.html
The Department of Justice Family Violence Initiative. Separate sections for youth 10 – 12 or 13 and up. Includes a quiz.
Gang Prevention
www.gangprevention.ca
Facts about gangs and crime prevention in BC – separate sections for Youth, Families and Community or Service Providers and Educators.
Youth and Gangs – resources and video
http://justiceeducation.ca/themes/framework/documents/yg-enfactsheet.pdf
PDF giving information on gangs for parents and youth.
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Legal advice
Legal Services Society
www.lss.bc.ca/legal_aid
Information about the services available, including legal aid.
Access Justice – free legal advice
http://accessjustice.ca/index.asp
Access pro-bono advice from lawyers.
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Web Resources for Parents
Parents of youth involved with, or at risk of being involved with the Youth Justice System usually have a lot of questions about what their teen is facing, what they can do to help, and what responsibilities they have as parents. The following links can give you some further information.
Has your child been charged with a crime?
http://www.cleo.on.ca/english/six/English/youth-en.pdf
Some answers to questions parents might have. Although written for parents in Ontario, is useful for parents in BC.
My child is in trouble with the law
http://www.cleo.on.ca/english/pub/onpub/PDF/youth/mychild.pdf
General information for parents whose child is in trouble with the law. Although written for parents in Ontario, is useful for parents in BC.
Help Starts Here - If your child is a victim of crime
http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/victimservices/publications/docs/help-starts-here-child-victim-crime.pdf
A resource to help parents whose children are victims of crime in BC.
Click Law
www.clicklaw.bc.ca
Clicklaw is a website aimed at enhancing access to justice in British Columbia. It features legal information and education.
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Web Resources for Professionals
If you are training to be a Probation Officer, Social Worker or a Law Enforcement Officer, you the following websites will help you learn more about the Justice System as it pertains to youth ages 12 – 18. These websites would also be useful to teachers.
YCJA - Summary, background and link to Act
www.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/yj-jj/ycja-lsjpa/back-hist.html
YCJA Pocket Guide
http://www.ag.gov.bc.ca/public/ycja/pocket-guide.pdf
Pocket Guide to the Youth Criminal Justice Act in Canada
Explore the YJCA
www.ycja.ca
Website for teachers who wish to learn about the law and how it relates to young people who commit crimes.
Click Law
www.clicklaw.bc.ca
Clicklaw is a website aimed at enhancing access to justice in British Columbia. It features legal information and education.
Justice Education Society
http://www.justiceeducation.ca/
Creating Positive Alternatives for Canadian Youth - Strategies to Address the Roots of Youth Violence
http://www.bgccan.com/en/Resources/Research/Documents/roots_of_youth_violence_e.pdf
Strategy for reducing youth crime and youth being victims of crime.
Being an Active Citizen
www.bccitizenship.ca
This websites provides information and resources for high school students to become active citizens and for teachers to access citizenship teaching resources.
Gang Prevention
www.gangprevention.ca
Facts about gangs and crime prevention in BC – separate sections for Youth, Families and Community or Service Providers and Educators.
Public Safety Canada – Youth gangs in Canada
www.publicsafety.gc.ca/prg/cp/bldngevd/2007-yg-1-eng.aspx Top
Legal glossaries/dictionaries
www.legalglossary.ca/dictionary
www.justiceeducation.ca/glossary