Unique in Canadian legislation, the Young Offenders Act begins with a statement of purpose that indicates young people should be accountable and responsible for their behavior, young people who commit offenses require supervision and control, and young people have certain rights and freedoms. With passage of the Young Offenders Act, the concept of proportional sentencing now applies to young offenders. Sentences must also be of a fixed length and be specified by the judge when the sentence is handed down. Sentences range from an absolute discharge to a maximum length of 5 years. Further, only youth between 12 and 17 years of age fall under the jurisdiction of the court and young offenders are guaranteed access to lawyers during court proceedings. The Young Offenders Act reflects three primary approaches to youth justice: (1) justice (access to due process); (2) crime control (deterrence); and (3) rehabilitation. 12 references