Is my teen delinquent?

Let's get into the definitions and establish a solid framework for the rest of this article. What does it mean to break a law? We are referring to a law from the Criminal Code, and in the case of youth, we are referring to the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA).

So now that we have a better idea of what delinquency is, let's explore a little bit further how the laws apply to our youth, ages 12 to 17 years old. 

What is the difference between an offender and a delinquent? 

Within the definition given above, we can get confused between two words that we associate with our teenagers: offender and delinquent.

The primary difference lies in the fact that an offender, will break a law, without necessarily causing harm to others. The other aspect that should not be overlooked is the frequency of the offences committed. Many teenagers will commit crimes, without necessarily being delinquent. 

Does this mean that all these young people are labelled delinquents? Absolutely not.

Speaking of labeling, as significant adults in the lives of young people, we must be careful. A teenager who is in the process of building his or her identity and who is thirsty for experiences can easily be influenced by an image of themselves drawn up by his or her parents. Also, the more we treat our teens like delinquents, the more likely they are to behave like one. 

What are the consequences if my child commits a crime?

In the first paragraph, we clarified the distinction between an infraction and a crime. In both cases, if the teenager is arrested as a result of a crime, there may be a legal consequence. This is where the Youth Alternative Measures of Laval (YAML) comes into play. We can explain a little about the role of MAJL in their lives.

Once a legal consequence is decided, the teenagers living in Laval will come and meet a member of the MAJL intervention team. Our role is to accompany the young offenders in the resolution of the legal process, while working with them to reduce the risk of repeat offences. Our approach is simple: we focus on the needs of young people to help them meet those needs in a different way than by committing offences.

In other words, it would be wrong to believe that a police arrest means that our youth is delinquent. Let's remember that many will commit crimes during adolescence and that it will not necessarily occur repeatedly or cause harm to others. Often, their offence represents a small mistake along the way. MAJL's interveners are there to help them overcome this obstacle by making sure they know how to avoid making the same mistake again in the future.

7 things to do to help prevent delinquency:

1. Adequate parental supervision
2. Positive peer influence (friends, family)
3. Communication
4. Inform your teen about the law to ensure that they are aware of the consequences
5. Maximize opportunities for positive social activities (sports, recreation, culture, neighbourhood life, etc.)
6. Consistent disciplinary methods
7. Love (you can never have enough!)

Several resources are available to support you on this topic, so please do not hesitate to consult the local services listed below for more information:

• SAJ Project
• Youth alternative measures in Laval (MAJL)
• Aire Ouverte (Integrated Youth Services)
• Street work in Laval

References (in French)

Gouvernement du Canada, Facteurs de risque et de protection dans les familles et leurs effets sur la délinquance juvénile : qu'en savons-nous?
Érudit, Trajectoires déviantes et trajectoires de rétablissement à l’adolescence : typologie et leviers d’intervention
Érudit, Intervenir par le sport auprès de jeunes contrevenants : analyse descriptive et compréhensive de dix interventions
Érudit, Les programmes de prévention précoce
Jean-Pierre Guay et Chantal Fredette, Le phénomène des gangs de rue
Marc Ouimet, La délinquance, Théories, causes et facteurs
Érudit, Traits de personnalité chez les jeunes contrevenants
OpenEdition Journals, Les versions mondaine et constitutive de la théorie de l’étiquetage