Justice for Young Offenders

Dr. Mary Vandergoot is a senior psychologist with the Youth Resource Centre, Child and Youth Program, in Saskatoon, SK, and a Professional Affiliate with the Department of Psychology, University of Saskatchewan. She has studied and worked in the areas of educational and developmental psychology, child and family mental health, and assessment and treatment of young offenders. She is the mother of five adult children.

Acknowledgements
Introduction: Toward A Disability Paradigm

1. The Tip of the Iceberg
The Code According to the YCJA
Mental Disorder Provisions
Key Aspects of Youth Justice Legislation
Conferences
Court Ordered Reports
Adult Sentences for Young Offenders
Constitutionality of the YCJA

2. Good Reasons for a Separate System
A Period of Change and Risk
Competencies in Youth
Adolescence and Stress
Mood Disorders
Planning, Judging, and Decision-Making
Substance Abuse and Addiction
Implications of a Developmental Perspective
The Truth about Consequences

3. Even More Reasons for a Separate System
Conceptualizing Mental Disabilities
Multiple Pathways Leading to Mental Disabilities
At Risk for Secondary Disabilities
Victimization
Mental Disabilities and Delinquency
Victimization and Violent Offending
Victimization and Youth Justice
Stereotypes Associated with Mental Disabilities
Mental Disabilities and Education
Disability Rights

4. The Snowball Effect
Out-of-Court Measures
Conditions of Release and Probation
The Adverse Impact of Custody

5. Examples and Strategies
Examples
    Intellectual Disabilities
    Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
    Disruptive Behaviour Disorders
Strategies
    Chronic Misunderstanding
    Reduced Remembering
    Impulsivity and Planning Difficulties

6. Waiving Their Rights
Competencies Required to Waive Rights
Admissible Statements and Waivers

7. Competency Assessments in Youth Court
Defining Roles and Preparing Clients
The Assessment Process
Maturity and Competence to Consent
Legal Competencies in Youth Court
Assessing Criminal Responsibility in Youth
Assessment Process for NCR

8. Perspectives on Criminal Intent
Criminal Intent and Moral Conscience
To Charge or Not to Charge
The Incapacitation Strategy
Adult Sentences
Implications for Relapse Prevention

9. Risk Assessments of Young Offenders
The Historical and Philosophical Context
Criminal Offending and "What Works"
"High, Low, Medium, Slow, Jolly, Pepper"
The Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory
Risk-Need Assessments and the YCJA
Are Practitioners Using Risk Measures Properly?

10. Easing the Alliance
Youth Stress
Parental Stress
Themes from Parents' Experiences
    Stress and Loss
    Hard Work
    Limited Support
    System Constraints
    Diminished Participation
    Youth with Mental Disabilities
Helping Families Cope

11. Justice as Therapy
The Therapeutic Youth Court
    Cognitive and Behavioural Principles
    Locus of Control
    Relapse Prevention
    Solution-Focused Principles
    Buying into the Program

Conclusion: The New Era
Notes
References
Index