Youth crime in Canada continues to decline, a survey released Thursday says, but drug-related offences among youths in the 12 to 17 age group are on the rise.

Canadian youth courts heard 99,590 cases in the fiscal year 2000-01, down 10 per cent from 1996-97. During this period the number of cases involving property crimes declined 23 per cent, while cases involving violent crimes declined 6 per cent.

“The numbers are quite consistent with the direction that is being taken with the new Youth Criminal Justice Act,” said Richard Barnhorst, senior legal council for the Canadian Department of Justice. “With the legislation the idea is to take the less serious cases out of the courts and deal with them in other ways.”
The Youth Criminal Justice Act will replace Canada’s Young Offenders Act. Among the act’s mandates are allowing provinces to lower the age, to 14 from 16, at which youths can receive adult sentences for serious crimes and reducing the levels of incarceration for youth community programs and measures.
The federal government has agreed to delay implementation of the Act in order to allow provinces to prepare for the new legislation. (DARREN YOURK)