Youth in Conflict with the Law
(Section 34 Assessments)

Court-ordered Assessments for youth in conflict with the law are delivered through a multi-disciplinary team which includes Social Workers, Psychologists and Psychiatrists. Such assessments have been completed by the Durham Family Court Clinic since 1980.

The Courts may order an Assessment to be completed pursuant to Section 34 of the Youth Criminal Justice Act for the following reasons:

• The Youth Justice Court has reasonable grounds to believe that the young person may be suffering from a physical or mental illness or disorder, a psychological disorder, an emotional disturbance, a learning disability or mental disability;


• The young person's history indicates a pattern of repeated findings under the
Young Offender's Act or the Youth Criminal Justice Act; and/or

• The young person is alleged to have committed a serious, violent offence.

Assessments provide the Court with additional information regarding the young person's family history, psychological makeup and other factors which may contribute to his/her criminal behaviour. Assessors will make recommendations regarding the interventions to reduce the risk of future offences and that are specific to the
youth's needs.