Transcript Document

Teen Court of Pennsylvania
Perspective
What Is a Youth Court?
A juvenile intervention program in which
youth are sentenced by their peers in
collaboration with adults.
Also referred to as:
Teen court
Peer court
Student court
Common Youth Volunteer Roles
in Youth Court Hearings*






Defense Attorney (youth advocate)
Prosecuting Attorney (community
advocate)
Clerk
Bailiff
Jurors
Sometimes, a youth judge
*Volunteer roles will vary according to the
program model the youth court utilizes.
What Makes Youth Courts
Appealing?






Serves as a prevention and early intervention
program
Offers a way to hold juvenile offenders
accountable
Provides a means for educating youth on the
legal and judicial system
Provides a meaningful forum for youth to build
competencies and practice and enhance skills
Offers an avenue for youth to provide service
for and build ties to their communities
Youth empowerment
Youth Courts
in PA
18 Teen Court
Programs in
Pennsylvania
Location of Youth Courts
Locally

Juvenile Justice System-Based
•Courts
•Law Enforcement Agencies
•Juvenile Probation Departments

Community-Based
•Private Non Profit Organizations

School-Based
School referrals also made to JJ and
local Community Based.
To Find a Youth Court Near You…
Log on to www.youthcourt.net
Click on the “National Listing of
Youth Courts” button on the left side
of page
Click Pennsylvania and find contact
information.
Common Elements






Juvenile Diversion programs
Primary First-time low-level offenders –
1st or 2nd step in a system of graduated
sanctions
Misdemeanor, non-violent cases
Most Require youth to admit to charge
Most are Voluntary participation
Parental consent/participation
mandatory in most
Types of Offenses
Traffic
42%
48%
56%
62%
67%
71%
75%
81%
87%
95%
School
Disciplinary
Curfew
POM
Tobacco
Assault
Alcohol
Disorderly Conduct
Vandalism
Theft
Common Sentencing Options
•
•
•
•
•
More meaningful Community
Service that are project oriented
Oral/Written Apologies to victims
Essays on the crime, offense or
violation(s) they were referred to
youth court for
Jury Duty in Youth Court
Educational Workshops on laws
and consequences
Additional Sentencing Options
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Restitution
Alcohol/Drug Assessment – not
treatment, as those cases should not
be handled in youth court unless no
other sanction/service exists.
Curfew
Tutoring
Victim Awareness Class or Panel
Drug Testing
Peer Mediation
Adult Judge Model
•
Youth volunteers serve in the roles
of:
• Defense Attorneys
• Prosecuting Attorneys
• Clerks
• Bailiffs
• Jurors
•
Adult volunteer serves in the role 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)
• Defense Attorneys
• Prosecuting Attorneys
• Clerks
• Bailiffs
•
There is NO PEER JURY
Peer Jury Model
•
•
Youth volunteers serve as jurors and
question the defendant directly
Some programs use youth and
community advocates
Federal Youth Court Program
www.youthcourt.net




Serves as an information clearinghouse for
information on youth courts
Provides training and technical assistance
Develops and provides resources and
publications
Website: www.youthcourt.net
Training and Technical Assistance

Pennsylvania Training Programs to
Implement or Enhance a Youth Court.
• 2007 PBA/PBI Law Day Booklet Lesson: You be
the Judge and Jury – pg. 20

Technical Assistance
• Administrative and Operational Guides and
curriculum.

Widener Harrisburg School of Law is
working in cooperation in setting up a
Pennsylvania statewide organization.
Other Resources

Online training lessons
• Youth Deliberation process
• Case preparation techniques for teen
attorneys

Website
• www.youthcourt.net
• http://www.youthcourt.net/national_listing/
United_states/Pennsylvania.pdf

Federal Youth Court Database to include
local and state data and over 6,500
individuals.
Support for Youth Court Programs
Federal funding [the U.S. Department of
Education, Transportation, Health and
Human Services and Justice] annually
provides approximately $650,000 for the
coordination of the National Youth Court
program. Local youth courts are funded by
a wide variety of means, but the local
programs exist mostly through the
volunteer effort of involved youth and
adults.
Support for Youth Court Programs
Contacts
Federal Youth Court Program
Website: www.youthcourt.net
Phi Alpha Delta Public Service Center
Baltimore, Maryland
[email protected] – Carole Collins, Director
U.S. Department of Justice/OJJDP
Demonstration Division
Scott B. Peterson, [email protected]
202-616-2368
Pennsylvania Teen Court Association
David Keller Trevaskis, Esquire
[email protected]
717-571-7414
William Higgins, Jr., Esquire
Bedford County District Attorney
205 Juliana Street
Bedford, PA 15522
[email protected]
814-623-4855