Youth crime

I have seen some pretty bad actors who are still "youths". The trouble is to distinguish them from young people who can still be rehabilitated -- and here age is somewhat arbitrary. There are 22 year olds who are totally immature (in a criminal sense) and 15 year olds who are seasoned thugs.

Anyway, Tracey Tyler's article (as usual) is worth a read. I'm not so sure reform is right -- more and more I conclude a full rebuild of the justice system (recognizing mental health, drug addiction and the need for serious re-education of criminals together with a far faster system) is needed. But until then ... .

Justice reform reports ignored, critics say
TheStar.com - Ontario - Justice reform reports ignored, critics say

Many have sought ways to fix problems affecting the justice system. But in most cases, their reports have led to few perceptible changes

October 27, 2008
Tracey Tyler
Legal Affairs Reporter

Just last week, at virtually the same time a 15-year-old was charged with murdering Brampton teenager Rajiv Dharamdial, government printing presses were gearing up to publish a major new report on preventing youth crime.

Commissioned last year by Premier Dalton McGuinty after 15-year-old Jordan Manners was shot dead in a Toronto school, the report examines the "root causes" of youth criminal behaviour. It represents months of work by Roy McMurtry, Ontario's former chief justice, and former Liberal cabinet minister Alvin Curling.

"I'm sure the premier ... is going to take the report seriously," McMurtry said in an interview. "But there will certainly be other people in government who might be quite happy to see it buried."

Story here:

http://www.thestar.com/printArticle/525059