Government of Saskatchewan - News Release, October 29, 1998

Stop Blaming Youth Say Provincial Children's Advocates

Provincial Children's Advocates expressed concern over the proposed changes to
the Young Offenders Act at a national meeting held last week. The meeting of
the Canadian Council of Provincial Children's Advocates was held in Edmonton,
October 21 to 24, 1998, and focused on developing effective ways to assist
children and youth, particularly youth in conflict with the law. Following
this meeting, the Children's Advocates, representing six provinces in Canada,
are urging Federal, Provincial and Territorial Justice Ministers, who are
meeting in Regina today, to focus on positive ways to enhance youth justice in
Canada.

The Provincial Children's Advocates believe that the proposed changes to the
Young Offenders Act do not go far enough in addressing the core issues that
cause youth crime. Prevention and community-based sentencing must be
prioritized. Continued focus on the small number of youth committing "serious,
violent and repeat offences" does not address the issues that lead youth to
involvement in crime. Such issues include poverty, abuse, youth unemployment,
and the need for better services for at-risk youth. Proposed changes such as
imposing adult sentences on children as young as 14 years will not build the
necessary skills that will assist youth in becoming contributing members of
society. Greater emphasis must be placed on rehabilitation rather than more
custody and control that permanently label and entrench youth in the justice
system. Rehabilitation provides greater public safety and greater cost
effectiveness than continual use of incarceration.

The Advocates feel that the perception of public protection appears to be the
focus of the proposed changes more than the actual protection of citizens.
Information about youth courts and corrections demonstrate that there are
consequences for youth who break the law. Canada has the highest rate of youth
incarceration in the Western world, over twice the rate of the United States
(John Howard Society, 1996). Saskatchewan has the highest rate of
incarceration of youth aged 12 - 17 and the highest youth criminal charge rate
per hundred thousand of any jurisdiction in Canada (1995).

"The public deserves to know the real facts about youth and crime", stated
Judy Finlay, Chief Advocate, Office of Child and Family Service Advocacy in
Ontario. "Actual statistics do not support the public's perception of
increased youth crime." 1997 Canadian Crime Statistics (Juristat, Canadian
Centre for Justice Statistics) indicate that:

In 1997, Canada's police-reported crime rate decreased for the sixth year in a
row, falling 5% - the lowest rate since 1980. Violent crimes declined for the
fifth consecutive year. The rate of youths charged with Criminal Code offenses
fell 7% - representing a 12% decrease in property crime and a 2% decrease in
violent offences. Adult crime represents 71.5% of all Criminal Code, federal
and provincial statutes charges and 83.8% of violent crime charges in Canada.

While recognizing the need for public safety, changes to the Young Offenders
Act must include options to assist young people in taking meaningful
responsibility for their actions. Alternative sentencing options need to be
provided that promote responsible citizenship and reduce recidivism rates.

"We must remember that a high percentage of young people who commit crimes are
themselves victims. They have been repeatedly victimized by poverty, neglect,
physical or sexual abuse, and exposure to family violence," stated Dr. Parker
Loewen, Children's Advocate for the Province of Saskatchewan. "These children
and youth are experiencing difficulty because we, as a society, have failed to
address their problems earlier in life."

Through the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Canada
committed to promoting programs respecting the dignity of children and youth.
The justice system must ensure that adequate resources are available for
prevention programs and for the treatment and rehabilitation of children who
come in conflict with the law.

The Canadian Council of Provincial Children's Advocates is an informal
association of Provincial Advocates representing the provinces of Quebec,
Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. The Council is
dedicated to the voice and rights of children.

For more information, please contact:

Sharon Chapman Communications and Public Education Coordinator Saskatchewan
Children's Advocate Office Phone: (306) 933-6706 Fax: (306) 933-8406