3. Make a referral.
   An officer may refer a youth to a community program or agency that may help the youth change his or her behaviour. The officer can refer a young person to a recreation program, a counseling agency, a child welfare agency, a youth justice committee or a mental health agency. The goal is to help the youth deal with any issue(s) the police officer feels may have led to the crime. The young person has to agree to the referral. The youth must be told of his or her right to talk to a lawyer before deciding to accept the referral. The referral may also be entered into the local police records system.

The three examples above are informal types of extrajudicial measures that the police can use. If the police use any of the three measures listed above, the police do NOT lay a charge against the youth.

If the police decide not to use a warning, caution or referral, or if the youth does not consent to a referral, then the police may lay a charge against the youth.

However, even if a charge is laid by the police, there remain two extrajudicial measures by which the youth’s case may avoid the formal court process. The Crown Prosecutor decides which of these measures to use.

Crown Cautions

The first option is the issuing of a crown caution to the youth. The crown prosecutor sends the youth a letter, with a copy to the parents and/or guardians. The letter explains the charge and warns the youth to change his or her behaviour if they do not want to face more serious legal consequences in the future.

Extrajudicial Sanctions

Extrajudicial sanctions are the most formal type of extrajudicial measures. The Act says that an extrajudicial sanction may be used when a warning, caution or referral is not adequate because of the seriousness of the offence, the nature and number of previous offences or other aggravating circumstances.

Consenting to an extrajudicial sanctions program means that a young person will be under supervision for three months. During this time, the youth agrees to complete certain actions or live under certain conditions. In Alberta, a youth must agree to complete up to three (3) of the following possible conditions:

• apologize in person and/or in writing to the victim;
• do personal service for the victim;
• do community service for a non-profit community or government agency;
• make restitution or return property to the victim;