Why Had Secure Care Facilities For Children Under Twelve Be Available In Every Province?

Classification: Criminal Law and Family Law

The reason this issue is in the category of Criminal Law is due to the fact that the crimes committed by the young boy, such as assault and arson, would, in normal circumstances, fall under the category of criminal law. As the reason the boy cannot be put in secure care is discussed in Child and Family Service Legislations the article pertains to Family Law.

Summary:

During the last few months in Winnipeg, Manitoba, a young boy under twelve, whose age cannot be disclosed, has committed increasingly violent crimes. He has been involved in thefts, arsons, break-ins and a stabbing. From the age of five, this young boy has committed over six pages of criminal offenses. The boy is under twelve, and in accordance to the Youth Justice Act, he cannot be charged or taken to criminal court. Under normal circumstances, attending mental health meetings with a professional would be sufficient. However, he has received psychological help, which has been unsuccessful thus far. In the circumstance where the child can seriously harm either themselves or those around them, secure care facilities are required. Except, according to provincial Child and Family Legislation in every province, excluding

If Manitoba had secure care facilities for the young boy, further attacks or damage caused by him can be avoided. Care facilities are, as described by Queen’s Law professor Nicholas Bala, not prisons, rather “secure mental-health facilities where there is programming and therapeutic intervention that can address the very serious problems that these children have.” (Barghout) Secure care facilities include: constant surveillance of the child so that they will not be able to harm anyone, including themselves, the aid of licensed social workers such as therapists, as well as teaching facilities and medical service.