The Criminal Process Responses to Juveniles؛ with a Comparative Approach to the Iranian and Canada Legal Systems

Today, it is important how juvenile delinquents are treated in the criminal process. Children and adolescents, due to high vulnerability, need different criminal process compared to adults in order to minimize the adverse effects of this process. Also, Following the tenets of the criminological theories (such as Labelling theory), if criminal labels are imposed on children and adolescents, the society's view of that juveniles will be changed. This belief can lead them to commit other criminal acts or make it difficult for them to return to a normal life. Thus, the responses and process of imposing them must always be considered. In recent years, Iran and Canada have taken some important steps to prosecute the crimes of juveniles and reduce their presence in the criminal process. These penal systems, although in the stages of trial and post-trial, provides almost the same measures such as reducing the length of detention in the rehabilitation center, suspension of sentences, probation, supervision orders and non-registration of criminal record. However, in the pre-trial stage, Canada is more advanced because of providing Juvenile Police and Pre-Trial Measures.