Workbook 6 Activity 3

Activity 3: Advocacy Groups

Get Focused

In the previous activity, you discovered that jury duty is a legal responsibility of being an adult citizen in Canada. This responsibility is part of ensuring fairness and equity in legal decisions.

The legal rights of youth are evolving constantly. Public opinion, government decisions, and crime statistics can influence the decisions regarding youth crimes.

Examine the following fictional news report, and consider your thoughts.

Two youth convicted of breaking curfew

Two 14-year-old youths will each spend half a year behind bars after they were sentenced at Long Lake courthouse for breaking a curfew bylaw.

The boy and girl, who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, were spotted by police walking along 32 St. at midnight on Sept. 1, 2009. Because it was a weeknight and a school night, the police charged the pair with breaking the community's curfew bylaw. Constable Schlosser of the Long Lake RCMP stated, "Both youth were aware of the curfew and did not resist arrest."

Judge Lori Carter made it very clear to the two youth that, although it was their first offence, too many youth are not respecting the curfew. Carter said, "These two shall be used as an example to all of the youth in Long Lake."

Judge Carter sentenced both youths to six months in jail, which will be served in the Red Deer Remand Centre. As well, this conviction will remain on their records until both youth turn 18.

Both youths were shocked by the severity of the verdict.

Reported by Han D. Pen.

Do you agree with the judge's verdict?

As a youth, consider what you could do to support or change the treatment that the two youth received in court.

Create a list of ideas. Place your list of ideas into your Activities folder.

In this activity, you will examine this question:

How do advocacy groups ensure fairness?

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