Peacebuilders’ intervention helps secure decision affirming diminished moral blameworthiness of youth.
Toronto, ON – July 23, 2025 – The Supreme Court of Canada has delivered a landmark ruling in R. v. I.M. and R. v. S.B., strengthening constitutional protections for young people in the justice system. In its July 18 decision, the Court clarified that before a youth can be sentenced as an adult, the Crown must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the young person does not benefit from the presumption of diminished moral blameworthiness.
This presumption — a principle enshrined in Canada’s youth justice framework — recognizes that young people are less culpable than adults because of their ongoing development. Adolescents are still maturing, which makes them more vulnerable to impulsivity, peer influence, and risk-taking. The law acknowledges that because young people may not fully appreciate the consequences of their actions, their punishment must reflect their capacity for growth and rehabilitation.
Peacebuilders Canada, which intervened in the case, played a pivotal role in shaping the Court’s reasoning. The Court explicitly endorsed Peacebuilders’ submissions that a young person’s proximity to age 18 does not automatically mean they possess adult-level maturity. Instead, judges must take a careful, developmentally informed approach when deciding whether to impose an adult sentence.
“This decision is a victory for fairness, compassion, and the recognition that young people are different from adults,” said Justin Bobb, Executive Director of Peacebuilders Canada. “The Court’s ruling affirms what developmental science and lived experience tell us: youth deserve a justice system that sees them for who they are and gives them the chance to grow and change.”
The Court also emphasized the importance of considering social context and systemic discrimination when evaluating whether the Crown has met its burden. This recognition reflects the reality that many young people in the justice system face structural inequities that shape their circumstances. By affirming these principles, the ruling helps ensure that vulnerable youth are not unfairly subjected to harsher and inappropriate sentences under the adult justice system.
“We are proud that our submissions helped ensure the Court’s decision reflects a developmentally appropriate understanding of youth justice,” said Stephanie DiGiuseppe of Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP, counsel for Peacebuilders. “This precedent will help protect young people across Canada from being unfairly sentenced as adults.”
For Peacebuilders, this ruling marks a milestone in our ongoing work to advance youth justice reform. It strengthens constitutional safeguards for young people and reinforces the need for restorative, fair, and developmentally appropriate approaches to justice. “The decision also connects directly to our Adolescence Project, which draws on science showing that young people continue to develop judgment and self-control well into their 20s,” said Eva Marszewski, Peacebuilders’ Founder and Board Co-Chair. By rejecting simplistic equations of age with maturity, the Court has validated principles at the heart of our advocacy — and given us momentum to continue pressing for change.
This victory also builds on Peacebuilders’ leadership in convening dialogue and advancing reform. Later this year, we will bring together youth-serving organizations, justice professionals, and community partners at our annual Community Forum, continuing the conversation about how to create a more compassionate and effective justice system.
About Peacebuilders
Peacebuilders is a Toronto-based nonprofit dedicated to building pathways away from the criminal justice system and toward positive futures for young people. Through restorative justice, advocacy, and community-based programming, we work to transform how society responds to youth in conflict with the law.
This ruling is a reminder of what’s possible when we work together for systemic change. You can help Peacebuilders continue this vital advocacy by supporting our work.