In abandoning the concept of a broadly defined offense of delinquency, the YOA's focus is not on the condition of the offender, regardless of the alleged offense, but rather on the commission of a specific offense. The YOA emphasizes what a young person has done, not who he or she is as a person, and provides for the possibility of juvenile transfers to adult courts in exceptional cases. Exceptional cases usually involve murder or attempted murder. Although the YOA provides for juvenile transfer hearings, these hearings are viewed by some as inadequate or inappropriate because they presume innocence but assume guilt. Deficiencies in Canada's juvenile justice system are noted, as well as ways of improving the system. 12 references