Youth and Crime 
Sometimes children break the law. A child steals something, or a young person breaks a window in his school. What will happen?
The law says children under 12 years old can’t be arrested or taken to court. If the police catch a child younger than 12 doing something wrong, they will take him or her home and tell his or her parents. The parents may get help at the school or in the community.
There is a special law for children from 12 to 17 years old. It is called the Youth Criminal Justice Act. This law says:
- People have the right to be protected from young people’s crimes. Young people who break the law need to understand that what they did caused harm to the community.
- They need help to learn how to stay out of trouble and to contribute to the community in a positive way.
- Young people have the same legal rights as adults. The police have to tell young people about their rights and explain what is happening to them.
- Young people don’t go to the same court as adults. There is a special youth court. The judge in youth court will make sure young people get a lawyer.
- People 18 years old or older who break the law are adults and have to go to adult court.
What Happens to Youth Who Commit a Crime?
The first time a young person (12 to 17 years) does something wrong, he or she will not usually have to go to court. The young person may get help from a local community group.
Maybe it’s not the first time a young person has been in trouble. Or maybe it is something more serious. Maybe the young person had a weapon such as a knife or gun. Then he or she will have to go to youth court.
If the judge at the court decides the young person is guilty, the judge can:
- make the young person pay a fine
- make the young person pay for damage with money or with work
- tell the young person to do some volunteer work in the community
- let the young person go home, but someone from the court will check on the young person for up to two years
- have the young person go to jail if it’s a serious crime
If a young person over 14 years old is accused of doing something very serious (for example, a murder), he or she may be sentenced as an adult and receive a tougher sentence than in youth court.
Youth and Gangs
Some young people join gangs. A gang is a group of people who break the law. Some gangs look for young immigrants who don’t speak English. They look for someone who has few friends and not much money.
At first, the gang members are good to the young people. They introduce them to new friends. Then they ask them to do something for the gang, such as steal something. Often, young people are afraid to say no or to leave the gang. They are afraid the gang will hurt them or their family.