Vol. 12 No. 43 Wednesday, Oct'ber 29-7,q 1982, ,24 Pages Winter may be on Its way, but until then,1 Indian summer.seems to be the best season1 lt's play time for four-year-old Tammy. and f Ive-year-old Rejeanne. for tlre-swlnglng, even if heavy.coats do hamper the motion. -Free Press Staff Photo New act wil burden. Youth Bureau Experts in juvenile care in Durham Region are receiving the new Young Offenders act with a mixture of uncer- tainty and trepidation, a Social Planning Council luncheon revealed. Representatives from the courts, social ser- vice agencies and police, speaking at the Genosha Hotel October 20, appear to be uncer- tain just how the new act will affect juvenile care in the Durham Region. 0f concern to al speakers was the raising of the juvenhle age from under 16 to un- der 18 in the act. With the inclusion of 16 and 17 year-olds in juvemile courts, much reshuff- hîng of services may have to occur. Detective - Sargeant Charles Galiogley was the most emphatic in his opposition to the new legislation, which will be proclaimed in April 1983. Gallogley said the new act will place a heavier burden on police, social service agencies and taxpayers. "This (the change in age) wiil mean more in- vestigations, more juve- niles to be processed, more officers needed at the Youth Bur eau, and more officers tied up in juvenile court," said Gallogley, who is with the Durham Youth Bureau. He pointed -ont that with 16,.anld 17-year-olds being treated as juve- niles, offences under the Highway Traffic Act will have to be dealt with by youth workers and police. The caseload of police will increase dramatic- aliy, Gallogley_ said, pointing to statistics which show that nearly 30 per cent of -.adult crimes are committed by 16 and 17 year-olds. "Juvenile crimes amounted to 27- per cent of the crimes in the region last year," Gallo- gley said. With the in- clusion of 16 and 17 year- olds, that figure would be 49, per cent,, said Gallogley. Just how the courts will provide for the in- creased numbers of ju- venUles appearing in eourt is unclear. Judge Richard. Don- ald suggested four ways the courts could' deal with greater nunibers of juvenile hearings. Twelve to 18-year-olds could either be deait with in Famiiy Courts or Criminai Courts, Donald said. New courts could be created specifi- caily for 12 to 18-year- olds, or they could çon- tinue to be heard in juvenile court. Despite the many dif- ficulties the new act will pose for police, the courts, and social agen-' cies, Donald said he feels it 'should flot be, viewed.. in a negative way. Donald said the act is progressive, and signais a n ïew ,philosophical stte entrearding ju-~ veniles. "It recognizes that young people should bear some responsibili- ty for their actions," Donald said. >At the same time, the act recognizes that young* people have spe- ciai needs, and legal rights under the new Charter of Rights, Donald said. Nigel Hartley, of Pro- bation and Aftercare, said he believes social agencies can "streain- line" their operations to accmmoatechanges the newv act will bring He stressed that1 the picture is one Of "total confusion", becauise ju- venile car *e agencies are, unfcertain just how 'the actwill affect them. w RiE 1,ý c