Which law governs youth aged 12 to 17 and allows some to face non-prison consequences like counselling or community service?

• A. CCoC
• B. YCJA
• C. Family Law
• D. Both

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is how younger offenders are treated differently from adults. The Youth Criminal Justice Act is the law that applies to youths aged 12 to 17 and is built to emphasize rehabilitation and keeping youths out of prison when possible. It includes options for non-prison consequences, such as counselling, community service, or probation, through extrajudicial measures and sanctions. This approach aims to address the underlying factors behind the behaviour and reduce the likelihood of future offenses.

Family Law deals with relationships and disputes within families, not criminal cases involving youth, so it doesn’t govern youth justice. The option that suggests both doesn’t fit because only the Youth Criminal Justice Act specifically covers youths in this age range and provides these non-prison avenues.