Youth Crime In Canada

Youth crime is usually not a hot topic in Canada. Still, people tend to think that youth crime is increasing at an alarming rate. In fact, police-reported crimes in general are in a downward trend in Canada in the last years. As for youth crimes, only robberies by youth increased by 2% from 2009 to 2010; homicides decreased by 29%. Statistics for vehicle thefts and serious assault are also on the decline. Currently, youth crime is dealt differently from adult crime in the way that, presently, a little less than 60% of young offenders are not formally charged. Instead, they are diverted from the formal criminal justice system with the use of warnings, cautions and recommendations to community programs¹.

Youth accused of crime, by clearance status, Canada, 2000 to 2010

The Harper government is now trying to pass a nine-part crime bill to deal with the “out-of-control” youth primarily concerning drug-related offenders and sex offenders. Essentially, the new bill implies tougher sentences and more jail-time for young law-breakers. So, since more young criminals will be sentenced to prison instead of alternate sentencing, prison capacities will need to be upgraded and money will have to be taken out of the Canadian people's pockets. It comes as no surprise that “a few” Canadians are “slightly” opposed to that idea. Although, according to the Conservatives, getting tough seems to be the best solution, Texans tend to say otherwise. Texas is known to have a “tough-on-crime” reputation (it is one of the last states where even the death penalty is still practised), but in recent years, the crime statistics have undergone a serious drop. One might think that severe sentences have finally come to have an effect on the local young criminals, but it is the complete opposite. Texas has actually decided to change their stand on youth crime. Now, less and less offenders are sent to prison or correctional facilities, instead, they are sent to participate in community-based programs. Their new tactic has generated a much better results than their old ways and so they are now urging the Canadian government to take it as an example and to realize that the new bill might not get rid of the problems, but aggravate them.

Personally, I would say that I am against the new nine-part bill that intends to get tougher on young offenders. I think we should look at Texas as a warning of what is to come if the Canadian government is to go through with the new legislation. Crime rates are bound to go up and the population is bound to get angry when their money invested in enlarge prisons does not amount to the promised results. Instead, money should be invested in improving programs for the rehabilitation of young offenders and expand the resources available to at-risk youth. Maybe Harper's government needs to try this approach and make the mistake for themselves to see the error of their way. 

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1Police-reported crime statistics in Canada, 2010. ''http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85-002-x/2011001/article/11523-eng.pdf''