1. Youth Court Programs A National Overview

2. Youth Court Youth Courts are also known as Teen Court Peer Court Student Court

3. 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

4. Youth Court Provides the 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

5. 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

6. States with Youth Court Programs As of March, 2007 1139 youth courts in the United States 49 States and DC

7. Who Administers Youth Court Non-Profit (28%) Juvenile/Municipal Court (16%) Law Enforcement (15%) City/County Government (13) Probation (13% Schools (5%) Other (10%)

8. Types of Offenses Possession of Marijuana Tobacco Assault Alcohol Disorderly Conduct Vandalism Theft

9. Types of Offenses Traffic School Disciplinary Curfew

10. Common Sentencing Options Community Service Oral/Written Apologies Essays Restitution Jury Duty Educational Workshops

11. Additional Sentencing Options Alcohol/Drug Assessment Curfew Tutoring Victim Awareness Class or Panel Peer Mediation

12. Primary Youth Court Program Models Adult Judge Model Youth Judge Model Youth Tribunal Model Peer Jury Model

13. 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

14. Youth Judge Model Youth Volunteers serve in the role of: Judge Prosecuting Attorneys Defense Attorneys Clerks Bailiffs Jurors

15. 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

16. 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

17. Contact the Federal Youth Court Program Information Training Technical Assistance Resources National Council for Juvenile and Family Court Judges P.O. Box 8970 Reno, NV 89507 Phone: (775) 784-6012 Fax: (775) 784-6628 Email: youthcourt@ncjfcj.org Web: www.youthcourt.net

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