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Adult criminal and youth court statistics in Canada, 2016/2017: Highlights
* In 2016/2017, there were 357,642 cases, involving 1,227,546 charges, completed in adult criminal court in Canada. In youth court in 2016/2017, there were 29,172 cases, involving 113,943 charges, completed in Canada.
* The number of youth court cases declined 8% in 2016/2017 compared to a year earlier. Youth court cases have been declining in number consistently since 2008/2009. In contrast, the number of adult criminal court cases increased 2% in 2016/2017 from the previous year. This was the first increase in adult criminal court cases in seven years.
* The median length of time it takes to complete a charge rose 10% from 113 days in 2015/2016 to 124 days in 2016/2017 in adult criminal court. In youth court, the median rose 7%, from 99 days in 2015/2016 to 106 days in 2016/2017.
* The average number of charges in adult criminal court cases increased from 2.9 in 2007/2008 to 3.4 in 2016/2017. In youth court, the average rose from 3.3 to 3.9 over the same period.
* Slightly more than half (54%) of youth court cases resulted in a guilty finding in 2016/2017. In adult criminal court, closer to two-thirds (63%) of cases resulted in a guilty finding.
* Custody was imposed in 38% of guilty adult criminal court cases in 2016/2017. In youth court, where the Youth Criminal Justice Act requires that all reasonable alternatives to custody must be considered, 13% of guilty cases received a custodial sentence.
As one of the fundamental components of the criminal justice system in Canada, along with police and the correctional system, the courts interpret and apply the law. They provide an impartial forum to resolve disputes and to enforce laws in a fair and rational manner, without regard to the government's wishes or the weight of public opinion (Canadian Superior Courts Judges Association 2018).
The justice system in Canada makes a distinction between adults and youths accused of committing criminal activity. The Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) replaced the Young Offenders Act in 2003, bringing with it the principle of "fair and proportionate accountability that is consistent with the greater dependency of young persons and their reduced level of maturity" (YCJA, s. 3(1)(b)(ii)). The YCJA...