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Find out whether the Youth Criminal Justice Act or the ordinary adult criminal court process applies, based on age at the time of the alleged offence.
Estimate only — not legal advice. What matters legally is age at the time of the offence, not age now.In Canada, young persons aged 12 to 17 at the time of an offence are dealt with under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, which emphasizes rehabilitation and carries shorter maximum sentences and stronger privacy protections than the adult system. For serious violent offences, the Crown can seek an adult sentence for a youth aged 14 or older, but the young person is still tried in youth court and the Crown must justify why a youth sentence would not hold them accountable.
The date of the alleged offence determines the applicable system — not the date of arrest or trial.
No criminal liability exists in Canada for children under 12, regardless of the alleged conduct.
A distinct youth justice system applies, with different procedures, terminology, and record rules than adult court.
The ordinary Criminal Code process applies, including adult sentencing principles and public record consequences.
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