The study found fewer youths are spending time behind bars, said Calgary researcher Joseph Hornick. (CBC)

The number of young Albertans charged with crimes is on the decrease and most of those found guilty are ending up on probation, according to a study released Thursday in Calgary.

The number of Albertans between the ages of 12 and 17 charged with criminal offences dropped by 27 per cent — or more than 4,000 people — between 2001 and 2006, according to the Canadian Research Institute for Law and the Family, which is affiliated with the University of Calgary.

One reason for the drop is far fewer youths are spending time behind bars thanks to the Youth Criminal Justice Act, said executive director Joseph Hornick.

"This is where they establish their friendships. There is suspicion that they may be recruited for gangs when they are incarcerated," he said.

'The crime rate is dropping, the act is working. There is no real need to change it or make it tougher.' —Gordon Sand, John Howard Society

Hornick called it the first in-depth study of Alberta's youth crime rates since 2003, when the act emphasizing the rehabilitation and re-entry of a young offender into society came into effect.

Gordon Sand works with young offenders as executive director of the Calgary John Howard Society. He said he understands many Canadians believe crime is on the rise and want the justice system to be tougher, but those opinions don't reflect the numbers.

"Really what's happening is the crime rate is dropping, the act is working. There is no real need to change it or make it tougher," he said.

Biggest drop in property crimes

Crime rates among Alberta youth fell in all categories between 2001 and 2006, including drug offences and violent crimes, according to the study.

The biggest drop was in property crimes. Of youth charged with crimes in 2001, 41 per cent were charged with property crimes. In 2006, the number fell to 35 per cent.

"This may signal that youth committing property crimes are being diverted away from the formal criminal justice system through the use of extrajudicial measures, or that the actual rate is declining, or both," says the report.

The study found that probation is the most common sentence handed down, representing 47 per cent of all guilty cases in 2006-2007.

'Kid glove treatment:' Anders

Conservative leader Stephen Harper has vowed that a re-elected Tory government would reduce protections under the Youth Criminal Justice Act for young people convicted of serious crimes. Young people 14 and over found guilty of crimes such as manslaughter, murder or aggravated assault would face tougher sentences, and no longer have their identities protected.

At an all-candidates debate in Calgary on Thursday, Conservative candidate Rob Anders defended his party's proposal.

"I've knocked on thousands of doors in this riding and people out there are very concerned about crime and they are very concerned about the kid glove treatment of the young offender's act," he said.

"People who are between the ages of 14 and 18, who do a second and third offence, along the lines of kidnapping, arson, robbery, auto theft, break and entry, [and] murder should get serious time."

Violent crime by young offenders across Canada increased 30 per cent between 1991 and 2006. Almost 40,000 Canadian youths were accused of serious and violent crimes in 2006. The crimes included nearly 160 murders or attempted murders, 2,100 sexual assaults and 4,500 robberies.