| ACCUSED | The accused is a young person who has been charged with breaking the law. The accused is innocent until proven guilty. |
| ACQUITTAL | This is when the judge has found the accused young person not guilty of having committed the crime. |
| ADJOURNMENT | Deferring, transferring or postponing court proceedings to another time. |
| ACT | This refers to the Youth Criminal Justice Act or YCJA. An “act” is any written law. |
| APPEAL | The judicial process by which the defence or crown resort to a higher court to correct what is felt to be an incorrect judgment of the original proceedings. |
| APPEARANCE NOTICE | A form issued by a police officer which outlines the date, time and location of the court where the accused must appear or may require the accused to go to a designated police station on a set date and time for fingerprinting and photographing. This form can be issued on the spot without attending at a police station or appearing in front of a justice of the peace. |
| AT LARGE | When a young person is not where they are supposed to be, such as court or a care facility, they are said to be ‘at large’. |
| BAIL | Money that is deposited with the court to guarantee that an accused will appear in court as directed and abide by any conditions ordered by the court. This money will be returned once the court case is completed and the accused has followed all the conditions. |
| BREACH | The breaking of an obligation or condition set by the court. |
| CANADIAN BILL OF RIGHTS | An Act for the recognition and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms passed by parliament in 1960. |
| CANADIAN CHARTER OF RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS | Charter passed by the Canadian Parliament in 1982 which guarantees the rights and freedoms set out in it subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society. |
| CASE CONFERENCE | A specific type of conference that brings together professionals from agencies and other parties involved in the case of the young person. |
| COMMUNITY CONFERENCE | A specific type of conference that brings together people from the community with an interest in, and concern for, a youth involved with the law. |
| COMPLY | The act of following all of the conditions and terms set in a specific case. |
| CONDITIONAL SUPERVISION | Is the community portion of any Custody and Supervision Order or Deferred Custody and Supervision Order. It allows a young person to serve the supervision portion of his or her sentence in the community under conditions set by the court. |
| CONFERENCE | A conference means a group of people who may be called upon by the Provincial Director, youth court judge, a police officer, a justice of the peace, a crown prosecutor or a youth case worker for the purpose of making a decision under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. This could include giving advice on appropriate extrajudicial measures, conditions for judicial interim release, sentencing or plans for reintegration. |
| CONVICTION | The formal finding of guilt against an adult person charged with a criminal offence. |
| COUNSEL | A lawyer. |