1. Creating a Successful Youth
Youth Court 101
Creating a Successful Youth
Court Program 1

2. Location of Youth Courts
Juvenile Justice System-Based
Courts
Law Enforcement Agencies
Juvenile Probation Departments
Community-Based
Private Non-Profit Organizations
School-Based
School referrals also made to juvenile justice and community based

3. Getting Started

4. NAYC As A Resource Website Online training lessons Forms
Online training lessons
Deliberation process
Case preparation techniques for teen attorneys
Forms
Data collection
There is no need to re-invent the wheel
TONS of information has already been prepared and may be downloaded from our website
You can pick and choose what you want, tailoring your program to the needs of your community

5. Publications Produced more than 35 publications including:
Adult and Youth training materials
Policy briefs
Newsletters
Administrative and operational manuals
Articles
Youth Court Materials: Youth Court in a box/bag
Currently reviewing materials for updating and reprinting 5

6. Collaboration
The willingness of a person to put their money on the table and then put their hands behind their back
You want a collaborative approach – likely you won’t be able to create and run your program alone
What is the price of collaboration? Who will control the program?
People who don’t hold the purse strings can think of many ways to spend your money!

7. Community Mobilization
Key Stakeholders
Juvenile Court
Probation
District Attorney
Public Defender
Schools
Local Government
Local Law Enforcement
Restorative Justice Programs
Potential list can be extensive
Balance between establishing a broad base, with the need to make operational decisions
-start with small core group and build later
Key person is a judge – can bring lawyers and public officials to the table like no other person 7

8. Funding Options Goal: identifying and securing sustainable funding
Sources
Federal, state or private grants
May not be sustainable – limited in time
Requirements may govern program
Reporting requirements can be difficult/ time consuming 8

9. Basic grant requirements
Mission statement and goals
History
Budget
Board of Directors/ Advisory Board
Clear statement of how money will be used

10. State or local funding laws
Florida and others
On the “radar screen”
DUI prevention funds
Donations
Fees for service
Budget allocation through local government or schools
DIVERSIFY
State funding like Florida, a fee tacked on to all traffic tickets, can be wonderful
-but once you are visible to legislature, they may require or prohibit certain things to qualify for funding
-legislatures don’t always make right call
Donations: bar associations or law firms/ civic groups
Fees - should be reasonable and never exclude a child because cannot pay
Great source of funds is being a line item in the budget of a government agency
-usually very sustainable, but not always in these budget times
-categorical funds through schools
DIVERSIFY funding sources – the more you have, the less likely you will be impacted by budget cuts or that any one source can control your program

11. The Referral
In this section we will talk about the types of cases you will handle and how you get them into your program

12. Developing Referral Sources
Stakeholders
Regular contact with sources
COMMUNICATE
Build trust over time
Consult with your stakeholders – they may source (Probation/law enforcement agency/ school resource officer) or be able to connect with one
Be sure to know the law of your state regarding any limitations on referrals
Keep your referral sources involved with regular communication
-e.g. – tell police agency what happened to a case
Don’t expect to handle as broad a spectrum as well-established courts – build trust – more cases will come

13. Types of Offenses
See page 7 of Youth Court 101 for a similar listing

14. Types of Youth Courts
We will first discuss the various major models of youth courts
-no one has a “pure” program
-most are a blend of various aspects of these models
-some programs have various models depending on the kind of case being handled

15. Adult Judge Model Youth volunteers serve in the roles of:
Defense Attorneys
Prosecution Attorneys
Clerks
Bailiffs
Jurors
Adult volunteer serves the role of:
Judge
Mentor adult attorneys
The judges are real judges, or attorneys who sit as a “pro tem” judge
-attorneys like to wear the black robe, even if only in youth court!

16. Peer Jury Model
Youth Volunteers serve as jurors and question the defendant directly
Some programs use youth and community advocates
Adult judge
Sometimes called a “master jury”
Generally jury does all questioning, but some use student attorneys
Usually an adult judge 16

17. Youth Judge Model Youth volunteers serve in the role of judge Alaska
All youth program
Strong statement
Potential perception problem
Clearly this is the strongest “statement” by the youth court – all of the players are youth – everything that is said comes from the youth
Be careful of perception problem by parents and offenders - some may think the trial was unfair – an adult judge or attorney may appear more fair – avoids problematic sentences

18. Youth Tribunal Model Youth volunteers serve in the roles of:
Judge(s)
Defense Attorneys
Prosecution Attorneys
Clerks
Bailiffs
There is no peer jury
Placer county uses the tribunal model for tobacco and truancy cases
Use of student attorneys is optional 18

19. Hearing Replicate trial? Jury selection Preemptory challenges
Opening statement
Witnesses
Set limits
Victim’s statements
[Judge’s Script – ask if you want one sent electronically]

20. Argument Instruction Verdict Reflection
Reflection – very important to allow jury to explain to an offender WHY a particular sentence was ordered
-offender better understands the process, particularly if other offenders doing the same thing, but he got a worse sentence
[Handout – Placer Verdict Form]

21. Volunteers Recruiting youth volunteers School presentations
Former defendants
Civic organizations - Boys and Girls Club
Mock trial competition
Extra credit from school classes
Word of mouth is the key – as kids start hearing about the program, they will want to get involved 21

22. Recruiting adult volunteers Bar association Pro-tem judges Mentors
Court staff and judges
College/ law students
Extra credit
Work opportunity
There are a whole host of adult civic organizations that want to give strong support to worthwhile youth causes

23. Youth Training Multiple techniques Experienced students
Standard curriculum
Written manual
Policies for conduct
Dress code
Role-specific
Multiple techniques – written materials, oral instruction, visual (as with PowerPoint) and PRACTICE SESSIONS
Experienced students – kids training kids –it really works well; can involve the bar association – many attorneys like to teach kids
Standard curriculum – an outline of the training session will keep it consistent, on time, and nothing will be left out
Written manual – or at least written guidelines will allow students to refer back for guidance
Role-specific training – each student role should have its own training section – attorneys, bailiff, clerk, jurors [jurors can be done at the time of the trial with a video – see Placer County]
[Sample – Placer Teen Attorney Training Packet – ask for copies]

24. Common Sentencing Options
Community Service
Connect with existing agencies and programs
Create successful situations
Rules for service
Get feed back from service sites
Oral/Written apologies
Essays
Community service – there is no victimless crime – at least the community has been harmed – how meaningful is the community service [picking up trash vs. working in senior center] – is there a min/max number of hours
See websites for Street Law and Constitutional Rights Foundation for ideas for community service
Apologies – accompany youth to face to face
Page 20 of Youth Court 101 lists the most common sanctions
[Handout – Placer Community Service Rules and Verification] 24

25. Educational Workshops on laws and consequences
Jury Duty
Educational Workshops on laws and consequences
Activities related to the crime
Restitution
Alcohol/Drug Assessment
Curfew
Jury duty – CRITICAL – enters as defendant, leaves as a participant [min number of times?] 25

26. Tutoring
Victim awareness class or panel
Drug Testing
Peer Mediation
Hold or restrict the driver’s license