JUSTICE OF THE PEACE A minor judicial officer who is commissioned to perform both administrative and judicial functions.
LEGAL AID ALBERTA Legal Aid Alberta provides lawyers at a reduced cost to Albertans who need legal assistance and who qualify financially.
MANDATORY PROHIBITION A mandatory order of prohibition from possessing a firearm, ammunition or other weapons for a minimum period of two years.
PLEA The answer to a charge made in court. The plea may be either “not guilty” or “guilty”.
PRELIMINARY INQUIRY This is not a trial. Its function is to determine if there is enough admissible evidence that could, if it were believed, result in a conviction. It can be held in front of a justice of the peace or a judge.
PRE-TRIAL DETENTION When a young person is detained or held in custody after an arrest.
PRE-SENTENCE REPORT A pre-sentence report is prepared by a probation officer and includes information about the young person’s background that will help the judge decide on the sentence.
PRESUMPTIVE OFFENCE Presumptive offences are defined in the Youth Criminal Justice Act as first or second degree murder, manslaughter, attempted murder or aggravated sexual assault or as a serious violent offence.
PROBATION OFFICER Provincial corrections employee to whom a young person reports as directed by the youth court.
PROCEEDINGS The formal conduct of legal issues, as in a trial.
PROMISE TO APPEAR A formal document issued by a police officer on release of the accused which sets out the charge; the date, time and place at which the accused is to appear in court; and may also require the accused to appear at a designated place for fingerprinting and photographing.
PROVINCIAL DIRECTOR The provincial government staff person designated by the province to mange youth justice.
RECOGNIZANCE In addition to a summons or a promise to appear, a police officer may release an accused on a recognizance which is a formal acknowledgement of debt to the crown for any amount up to $500, without any cash or sureties being deposited.
REHABILITATION Treatment and programs to assist a youth to change those aspects of their behaviour that resulted in criminal activity.
REINTEGRATION Programs and activities that restore a youth to be a law abiding citizen of society.
REPARATION The making of amends for wrong or injury done.
REVIEW When the court looks at the sentence that a youth is serving and allows the court to change a sentence if it is no longer best for the youth or for society. Reviews of custody sentences are automatic after one year.
STAYED The temporary or permanent suspension of proceedings through a court order.
SUMMARY OFFENCE Minor offences that could include both provincial and federal offences but are considered to be less serious.
SUMMONS A formal document issued by a justice of the peace which sets out the charge of the accused; the date, time and place at which the accused is to appear in court; and may also require the accused to appear at a designated place for fingerprinting and photographing.
TRIAL The process through which the court does a formal examination of all the evidence to decide if the accused is guilty or not guilty of the charge(s) laid.
YOUTH CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT The Act passed by Parliament in 2003 to address youth justice in Canada and which replaced the Young Offenders Act.
YOUTH JUSTICE COMMITTEE A formally designated groups of citizens who volunteer to work with youth who are in trouble with the law.
VICTIM The person or persons against whom an offence has been committed.
VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENT A written or spoken declaration by the victim of an offence detailing how the offence has affected their life.
UNDERTAKING Following arrest, the pledge to a police officer that upon release the accused will follow conditions set by the officer. A promise to appear or an appearance notice will be issued in addition to an undertaking.
WITHDRAWN The decision by the crown to stop a case from proceeding. Once withdrawn, the case cannot be re-opened unless there are new charges laid.