Youth Criminal Justice Act

Marginal note:Release order with conditions

• 29 (1) A youth justice court judge or a justice may impose a condition set out in subsections 515(4) to (4.2) of the Criminal Code in respect of a release order only if they are satisfied that

  • (a) the condition is necessary to ensure the young person’s attendance in court or for the protection or safety of the public, including any victim of or witness to the offence;

  • (b) the condition is reasonable having regard to the circumstances of the offending behaviour; and

  • (c) the young person will reasonably be able to comply with the condition.

• Marginal note:Justification for detention in custody

  (2) A youth justice court judge or a justice may order that a young person be detained in custody only if

  • (a) the young person has been charged with

    • (i) a serious offence, or

    • (ii) an offence other than a serious offence, if they have a history that indicates a pattern of either outstanding charges or findings of guilt;

  • (b) the judge or justice is satisfied, on a balance of probabilities,

    • (i) that there is a substantial likelihood that, before being dealt with according to law, the young person will not appear in court when required by law to do so,

    • (ii) that detention is necessary for the protection or safety of the public, including any victim of or witness to the offence, having regard to all the circumstances, including a substantial likelihood that the young person will, if released from custody, commit a serious offence, or

    • (iii) in the case where the young person has been charged with a serious offence and detention is not justified under subparagraph (i) or (ii), that there are exceptional circumstances that warrant detention and that detention is necessary to maintain confidence in the administration of justice, having regard to the principles set out in section 3 and to all the circumstances, including

      • (A) the apparent strength of the prosecution’s case,

      • (B) the gravity of the offence,

      • (C) the circumstances surrounding the commission of the offence, including whether a firearm was used, and

      • (D) the fact that the young person is liable, on being found guilty, for a potentially lengthy custodial sentence; and

  • (c) the judge or justice is satisfied, on a balance of probabilities, that no condition or combination of conditions of release would, depending on the justification on which the judge or justice relies under paragraph (b),

    • (i) reduce, to a level below substantial, the likelihood that the young person would not appear in court when required by law to do so,

    • (ii) offer adequate protection to the public from the risk that the young person might otherwise present, or

    • (iii) maintain confidence in the administration of justice.

• Marginal note:Onus

  (3) The onus of satisfying the youth justice court judge or the justice as to the matters referred to in subsection (2) is on the Attorney General.