College Connections for Student Success Conference February 18 th, :50-2:50pm Emily Boness Peer Courts as a Diversion

What is a peer court? Voluntary diversionary program Teen volunteers serve as lawyers, judges, clerks and bailiffs, and in many cases jurors Restorative justice “…youth need to be presented with opportunities to make meaningful contributions to their families, schools, peer groups and communities.” (Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention) Common around the country 2

Who Benefits? Juvenile Court Respondents Youth volunteers Community 3

Peer Courts and Disconnected Youth Respondents return as volunteers Jury duty Avoid/delay contact with juvenile court Clear record 4

Activity Morgan, age 14, really wanted a new pair of shoes but couldn’t afford the shoes. Morgan decided to go to a shoe store and try on new shoes and then walk out of the store with those shoes and leave the old shoes behind. The store clerk caught Morgan and a video tape of the store confirmed what Morgan had done. Morgan was arrested. Who was harmed? What was the harm? Who could have been harmed?

Athens Peer Court History We have served approximately 190 youth. APC serves all first time juvenile offenders arrested in Clarke County. 6

Who we serve The average offender age is years old 109 boys, 79 girls 65% African-American, 23% White, 12% Hispanic Offense Shoplifting – 27% Night curfew violation – 22% Daytime curfew violation – 11% Possession of marijuana – 9% Criminal trespass – 9% Other (underage drinking, loitering, theft by taking) 7

Dispositions Typical disposition includes: Apology to family member in courtroom Jury duty Community service hours Letter of apology or reflective essay Youth respondents have been assigned a total of 1405 community services hours and 516 hours of jury duty The average disposition was 7.5 community services hours, 2.7 hours of jury duty and a verbal apology to a family member given in court. 8

Questions or comments? 9 J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development University of Georgia 1240 S. Lumpkin St. Athens, GA Emily Boness: