Youth Court participants are sworn in in Huntington, N.Y.
The concept of Youth Courts originated in Texas in the 1970s as an alternative process for dealing with adolescent offenders who commit non-violent crimes. Over the years, this concept expanded nationwide and has proven to be an excellent alternative to the traditional family court judicial process. The success in this arena has made Youth Court processes popular in school systems as a method for managing problem behaviors such as bullying and fighting.
While youth court models are based on peer-to-peer process, variations on this model are also utilized. Adult Judge Models, Youth Judge Models, Peer Jury Models, and a Tribunal Model are some of the most common processes. The Adult Judge Model is most commonly followed and utilizes an adult judge who oversees the process and assists the youths participating as attorneys and bailiffs in the proper procedure and use of jargon during the court session. The Youth Judge Model permits a youth with previous Youth Court experience to function as the judge while still utilizing other youth volunteers in roles as attorneys and clerks. The Peer Jury Model is different from the previous two models in that an adult volunteer from the community serves in the role of judge, but there are no youth attorneys, simply a jury composed of youths asking direct questions to the offender. Another model is the Tribunal Model, which utilizes a youth judge along with youths acting as prosecuting and defending attorneys. In this model there is no jury present and the youth judge is responsible for determining what sentence will be sanctioned on the offender.
Youth Courts were acknowledged as a “positive alternative to traditional juvenile justice and school disciplinary procedures” in the 15 Year Report on Youth Courts written, researched and compiled by Scott B. Peterson and Jill Beres.* Additionally, Sarah S. Pearson and Sonia Jurich of the American Youth Policy Forum explain that Youth Courts lower the number of cases processed in the juvenile-justice system and offer a more rapid turnaround between the time the offense is committed, the trial takes place, and their sentence is completed. This process has proven to be effective in preventing participants from committing future criminal activities.
Sentences administered by Youth Courts focus on holding the offender accountable for his or her actions and working to educate that individual for the future. Typical sentences issued to offenders may be writing an essay relevant to their offense or letter of apology to those affected by offender’s actions, mediation, community service and sometimes counseling. As a result of the experience of going through a youth court process, and after completing their sentence, adolescents often return to the program requesting an opportunity to become part of the Youth Court process.
Offenders who utilize the process not only make restitution for their crimes, they learn new problem-solving strategies and have an experience of collaborating within a system. Furthermore, Youth Courts provide a hands-on approach to learning about the legal system and empower youth to make a difference with their peers and within their community.
Information about youth courts for specific geographic regions can be found at www.youthcourt.net/content/view/7/14/ for more information.
Sources:
www.youthcourt.net
www.aypf.org/publications/Youth%20Court%20-%20A%20Community%20Solution.pdf
creducation.org/cre/home/frontpage_news/youth_courts_report/2179
*Beres, Jill and Scott B. Peterson. “The First Report to the Nation on Youth Courts and Teen Courts.” Copyright 2008, Scott Bernard Peterson. Pg. 6.
