Numerous revisions, royal commissions and discussion papers later, the Young Offenders Act began to take shape. As a result, Canada followed the lead of the United States in largely abandoning the special status conferred on the youth justice system. These principles resulted in certain practical guarantees. The concept of proportional sentencing now applies to young offenders. Sentences must also be of a fixed length, and be specified by the judge when the sentence is handed down.
Sentences range from an absolute discharge to a maximum length of five years.
Within this time frame, judges can order probation, or secure or open custody, for specified lengths of time. Further, only youths aged 12-17 fall under the jurisdiction of the court. The following scenarios illustrate the resulting dramatic shift from the days of the Juvenile Delinquents Act . Her mother was a major drug dealer. However, Kim had to give permission to allow herself to be sentenced to participation in a treatment program.