Good day.
On behalf of the New Brunswick Foster Families Association, we would like to thank the members of the committee for the invitation to speak to you about the proposed changes in the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
The New Brunswick association is a group of foster parents who work closely with our government on behalf of foster families and foster children to make foster care a positive experience. The New Brunswick association can only speak to these changes as they affect youth in New Brunswick and we can only attest to how this would affect the youth we live with, and we live with a variety of children.
Not all provinces have the facilities or the professional community resources to meet the needs of some of these youth, especially taking into account youth with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder--which is a very hard thing to obtain a diagnosis on--and other mental illnesses such as Asperger's, bipolar, etc.
Who determines if a youth is following the rules? This should be monitored by all people involved with that particular youth. If a youth is in a detention centre, he might come in contact with six different guards, psychologists, probation workers, foster parents, and parents. Every one of these professionals has a different connection to that youth, so by having all involved, you would have a more rounded assessment of the youth's progress.
DNA should not be destroyed for serious violent offences. If a youth at the age of 14 or younger has displayed this type of behaviour, the probability of this behaviour crossing over into adulthood is very high, and therefore past DNA samples are required and necessary.
The Youth Criminal Justice Act as a whole is a well-meaning piece of legislation, but there are many loopholes in it that the youth know better than the adults do. As a society, we have allowed behaviours to become normalized, which sends the wrong message to our youth.
In conclusion, the New Brunswick Foster Families Association would like to see earlier intervention with youth, as this may prevent future crime, and more mental health courts, with treatment imposed instead of incarceration. If a probation order or a form is issued, then make the youth accountable to follow the undertaking. If legislation is going to make rules for youth to follow, make sure there is a way to follow through with consequences.
Thank you.