This essay was written to show the advantages and .
disadvantages of the Young Offenders Act over the previous .
Juvenile Delinquents Act. Also it should give a theoretical .
understanding of the current Canadian Juvenile-Justice system, .
the act and it's implications and the effects of the young .
offenders needs and mental health on the outcome of the trials. .
In the interest of society the young offenders act was .
brought forth on april second 1984. This act was created to .
ensure the rights and the needs of a young person. Alan W. .
Leshied says "On one hand the justice and legal objectives of the .
act are being effectively realized while on the other hand the .
needs and treatment aspects of it leave much to be desired." The .
research of the Young offenders act is still ongoing but Leshied .
says that it is becoming clear that the custody positions have .
been in dispute since the act came into effect. The old Juvenile .
delinquency act states in section 38 "The care and custody and .
discipline of a juvenile delinquent shall approximate as nearly .
as maybe that which should be given by his parents, and. as .
far as practability every juvenile delinquent shall be treated, .
not as a criminal, but as a misguided and misdirected child . . . .
needing aid, encouragement, help and assistance."(Page 72) .
If a youth is close to the adult age of 18 years they could .
be transfered to the adult justice system. This means that they .
would be given the same sentences as an adult including and up to .
life in prison. Many people have tried to correct this problem .
that they see as a weakness. Yet, so far their attempts have .
failed. Another weakness they find, is that the courts are .
expensive and unsatisfactory methods of dealing with crime that .
is not very serious. .
Before the fabrication of legal aid most young offenders .
were not able to obtain legal services. "Subsection 11 (4) .
provides that, were a young person wishes to obtain counsel but .
