young offenders:
"a long standing presumption held that, although a person of any age can commit a criminal act, children under the age of fourteen years were unlikely to have criminal intent. This theory is generally disregarded to day as many feel that children under the age of fourteen are fully aware of the seriousness and the consequences of their actions (Caswell, 1997).

Young Offenders Act (YOA), 1984(Canada):
"the Young Offenders Act (YOA) or "The Act" deals with charges under the Criminal Code, the Narcotic Control Act, and other federal laws. YOA does not apply to provincial laws such as liquor or traffic laws" (John Howard Society of Alberta, 1995).

Young Offenders Act, 1984 (Canada):
"the Young Offenders Act was passed in 1984" (Calgary Remand Centre Program Orientation Manual, 1996).

Young Offenders Act, 1984 (Canada):
"The Young Offenders Act pertains to a youth who is or, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, appears to be 12 years of age or more, but under 18 years of age and, where the context requires, includes any person who is charged under the Young Offenders Act with having committed an offence while he was a young person, or is found guilty of an offence under the Young Offenders Act (Canada -Young Offenders Act, 1984).

young person:
"defined as a person who is or, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, appears to be twelve years of age, but under eighteen years of age at the time of the alleged offence (Consolidated Statutes of Canada, 1985).

youth:
"defined as a person who is or, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, appears to be twelve years of age, but under eighteen years of age at the time of the alleged offence (Consolidated Statutes of Canada, 1985).