Preventing Crime amongst Youth

Essay by LapachkaHigh School, 10th grade December 2006

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As everyone might know, perfect systems do not exist. There are always legal loopholes and individuals who are aware of their existence and how to work them. The Canadian justice system is also far from perfect. Criminal trials are not always the best way to protect the public and prevent crime. Extrajudicial measures and sanctions serve as a great alternative to the criminal court and are overall a beneficial part of the Canadian justice system. It is especially true for the young offenders aging from twelve to eighteen years of age. Extrajudicial alternatives take the stress off of the judicial system, therefore saving taxpayers' dollars; they prevent small time offenders from getting a criminal record, while still not repeating their petty crime mistakes; and most of all, they give youth a chance to correct their wrongdoings and set their lives straight.

To begin with, today's extrajudicial measures save taxpayers money by avoiding the unnecessary court appearances and costs.

It is a well known fact that the public would prefer to pay the judge for his or her valuable time so that he or she deals with serious cases, such as murder or rape, rather than under age drinkers. It is definitely cheaper to punish young offenders by making them do community service or pay the fine for a petty crime than to put them in jail. According to the Canadian Department of Justice, Canada has the highest youth incarceration in the Western world, including the United States. Therefore, the alternative programs, being a part of Canadian Youth Criminal Justice Act, are doing their part by keeping small time offenders out of the court system.

Besides saving money, the programs allow the offenders to make right of their wrongful acts by getting counseling, apologizing orally or in written form...