However, conclusions cannot be hastily drawn. It is impossible to predict the effect that the changes would have on the custody of young offenders - a number of factors may come into play. Also, there is no way of knowing whether serious youth crimes will increase or decrease. One must consider the range of current projects aimed at preventing crime. It is also difficult to predict judicial attitudes.
Judges also have other sentencing options.
For example, they might conclude that federal penitentiary placement is inappropriate and that the pro-vincial correctional system is better prepared to meet the special needs of young persons. However, other attitudes are possible and, for this reason, the result could be very different. For example, if the burden of proof to be discharged by the young person to remain in youth court is as heavy as the burden of proof now placed on the Crown to achieve a transfer, an increasing number of young persons will find themselves in adult court. Judges may also simply adopt a stricter attitude toward sentencing. Therefore, although it is too soon to draw conclusions, the presence of young persons in federal penitentiaries remains a definite possibility.