The law and research in Canada have evolved to allow children to take the stand as witnesses in criminal court, though there is still work to do. EDITOR'S NOTE This article was first published on January 5th, 2018. It was verified for accuracy on December 13, 2024. Until the late 1980s, the … [Read more...]
The Youth Criminal Justice Act: An Overview
Young persons who commit crimes must be held accountable, but in Canada (as in most other western democracies), because of their age, we approach “youth crime” differently than how we approach crimes committed by adults. In keeping with international standards and scientific understanding, young … [Read more...]
Voices of Children in Parenting Coordination
Parenting coordination is a form of alternative dispute resolution ("ADR") targeting the needs of separated parents who are experiencing entrenched conflict and are having difficulty implementing court orders and parenting plans. Through different techniques such as negotiation, problem-solving, … [Read more...]
The State of Mental Health Treatment for Youth in the Justice System
Alberta’s youth criminal justice system is struggling to meet the demand for mental health treatment due to a lack of space in secure mental health treatment facilities. The youth criminal justice system would benefit from a more integrated approach to the administration of youth criminal justice … [Read more...]
Finding the Best Ways Forward: Report on the Symposium on Children’s Participation in Justice Processes
In mid-September 2017, the Canadian Research Institute for Law and the Family and the Alberta Office of the Child and Youth Advocate ("OCYA") hosted an innovative two-day national symposium on children’s participation in justice processes in Calgary, Alberta. The symposium brought together leading … [Read more...]
Infants and Family Law: Advice for Parents
Until you face a family law issue, you may never know that your pre-verbal children, who have not yet learned to speak, can have a lawyer appointed to represent them with or without your consent. Lawyers are routinely appointed through Office of the Child and Youth Advocate, for children and youth, … [Read more...]
