Alternative measures for youth in Canada - ARCHIVED

In Canada, diversion is an alternative to the formal court process which is available to persons in conflict with the law. Diversion can take two forms: police discretion or alternative measures. Alternative measures aim to divert persons accused of less serious offences out of the formal justice system. Alternative measures programs provide these persons with the opportunity to avoid the consequences of having a criminal record, while holding them accountable in a manner which is visible to the community. The purpose of this Juristat is to provide descriptive information on policies and procedures, as well as quantitative information on the administration of alternative measures for young persons in Canada.