Youth Court Programs

A National Overview

Youth Court

Youth Courts are also known as• Teen Court

• Peer Court

• Student Court

What is Youth Court?

A program in which youth are sentenced

by their peers

Respondents/defendants

11-17 years old

Youth Volunteers

13-18 years old

Youth Court Providesthe Community

• An early intervention and prevention program• An option on the continuum of juvenile services• A way to hold juvenile offenders accountable• A means for educating youth on the legal and

judicial system/Builds competencies• A meaningful forum for youth to practice and

enhance skills• An avenue for building ties between youth and

their community

Most Youth Courts…

• Function as diversion programs• Accept first-time offenders• Accept misdemeanor, non-violent cases• Require youth to admit to the charge and

voluntarily participate in the program• Require parental consent for the youth to

participate

States with Youth Court Programs

As of March, 2007

• 1139 youth courts in the United States

• 49 States and DC

Who AdministersYouth Court

Non-Profit (28%)

Juvenile/Municipal Court (16%)

Law Enforcement (15%)

City/County Government (13)

Probation (13%

Schools (5%)

Other (10%)

Types of Offenses

Possession of Marijuana

Tobacco

Assault

Alcohol

Disorderly Conduct

Vandalism

Theft

Types of Offenses

Traffic

School Disciplinary

Curfew

Common SentencingOptions

• Community Service

• Oral/Written Apologies

• Essays

• Restitution

• Jury Duty

• Educational Workshops

Additional SentencingOptions

• Alcohol/Drug Assessment

• Curfew

• Tutoring

• Victim Awareness Class or Panel

• Peer Mediation

Primary Youth CourtProgram Models

• Adult Judge Model

• Youth Judge Model

• Youth Tribunal Model

• Peer Jury Model

Adult Judge Model

• Youth volunteers serve in the roles of:– Defense Attorneys– Prosecuting Attorneys– Clerks– Bailiffs– Jurors

• Adult volunteers serve in the roles of:– Judge

Youth Judge Model

Youth Volunteers serve in the role of:

• Judge

• Prosecuting Attorneys

• Defense Attorneys

• Clerks

• Bailiffs

• Jurors

Youth Tribunal Model

• Youth volunteers serve in the roles of:• Judge(s) – usually a panel of three judges• Defense Attorneys• Prosecuting Attorneys• Clerks• Bailiffs

• There is NO PEER JURY – youth judges determine the sentence

Peer Jury Model

• Adult or youth volunteer serves in the role of judge or monitor

• Youth volunteers serves as jurors and question the defendant directly

• Some programs use youth advocates to provide support for the defendant

Contact the Federal Youth Court Program

Information

Training

Technical Assistance

Resources

National Council for Juvenile and Family Court JudgesP.O. Box 8970Reno, NV 89507Phone: (775) 784-6012Fax: (775) 784-6628

Email: youthcourt@ncjfcj.orgWeb: www.youthcourt.net

For More Information on the local youth court program, please contact: