Youth Crime Policy
Policy Statement
The Regional Municipality of York Police Services Board (‘the Board’) understands that most young people are law-abiding citizens who make positive contributions to their communities.
The Board also recognizes that youth crime is of great concern to the public. At community meetings hosted by the York Regional Police, citizens voice their concerns about youth loitering, vandalism, drug use, and street racing in their neighbourhoods.
The Board expects the York Regional Police to collaborate with its community partners in developing a youth strategy that aims to prevent youth crime through awareness and education, and to reduce youth crime through effective enforcement strategies.
The Board encourages citizens to cooperate with the York Regional Police in preventing and responding effectively to incidents of youth crime, and to report any concerns about youth behaviour to the York Regional Police.
Policy requirements set out in this document shall form part of the Police Services Board Policy Manual and the Chief of Police shall comply with these requirements in directing the York Regional Police.
1. Application and Scope
This policy applies to the Chief of Police and Members of York Regional Police.
2. Purpose
This policy is consistent with a youth criminal justice system that aims to prevent youth crime, reinforce respect for societal values, ensure accountability for offending behaviour, and protect the public.
It provides guidelines to the Chief of Police in establishing procedures on the prevention and investigation of youth crime.
3. Statutory Authority
Section 29 of the Adequacy Standards Regulation requires a Police Services Board to have a policy on youth crime.
The Youth Criminal Justice Act came into force on April 1, 2003 and is the basis for the youth justice system in Canada.
4. Definitions
4.1 A young person is defined in the Youth Criminal Justice Act as one who is or appears to be 12 years old or older, but less than 18 years old.
5. Policy Guidelines
5.1 The Chief of Police shall develop and maintain procedures on and processes for undertaking and managing investigations into youth crime.
5.2 The Chief of Police shall ensure that officers investigating youth crime have the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities.
5.3 The Chief of Police shall continue to work with local school boards in accordance with the Safe School Protocols established for investigating school-related occurrences.
5.4 The Chief of Police shall ensure that the York Regional Police partners with those agencies that can assist in the prevention, detection, and investigation of youth crime.
5.5 The Chief of Police shall ensure that youth crime strategies developed in consultation with the community comply with the intent and spirit of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
5.6 The Chief of Police shall consider the need for a multi-agency strategy to prevent or counter the activities of youth gangs in the community in accordance with procedures on crime prevention and problem-oriented policing.
5.7 The Board and the Chief of Police shall review resources allocated to the prevention and enforcement of youth crime in developing Business Plans for the York Regional Police.
6. Reporting Requirements
6.1 The Chief of Police shall include youth crime, including trends, in the York Regional Police Statistical Reports to the Board.
6.2 The Chief of Police shall report to the Board on the incidence of youth crime and the effectiveness of crime prevention and enforcement strategies in reducing youth crime in York Region in the York Regional Police Annual Report.
6.3 The Chief of Police shall advise the Board of exceptional circumstances, when they arise.