Court of Quebec - Youth Division - Youth Court

The Youth Division of the Court of Quebec, as its name indicates, is responsible for all legal questions related to young people.

The Youth Division deals with criminal justice cases involving youth. When dealing with these matters, it is called the Youth Court. This court applies the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Any young person between 12 and 18 years old accused of committing an offence or violating a penal law may have to appear before the Youth Court for her trial. In this section, Éducaloi offers an explanation of what happens in this court. To gain a deeper understanding of some concepts, we invite the reader to consult Jeune pour jeunes.

A significant number of cases brought before the Youth Division also involve the safety and development of children between the ages of 0 and 18; these are known as youth protection cases. For example, when a child isn't receiving appropriate care because of his parents' lifestyle or behaviour, if he is physically or psychologically abused, or if he is a danger to himself, a judge at the Court of Quebec decides on the measures needed to address the situation. The court works together with the Director of Youth Protection.

Finally, the judge sitting in the Youth Division hears all cases related to adoption. He is the one who makes placement or adoption orders, for example.