Teen Court of Pennsylvania Teen Court of Pennsylvania PerspectivePerspective

What Is a Youth Court?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 courtPeer courtStudent court

Common Youth Volunteer Roles Common Youth Volunteer Roles in Youth Court Hearings*in Youth Court Hearings*

Defense Attorney (youth advocate)Defense Attorney (youth advocate) Prosecuting Attorney (community Prosecuting Attorney (community

advocate)advocate) ClerkClerk BailiffBailiff JurorsJurors Sometimes, a youth judgeSometimes, a youth judge *Volunteer roles will vary according to the *Volunteer roles will vary according to the

program model the youth court utilizes.program model the youth court utilizes.

What Makes Youth Courts What Makes Youth Courts Appealing?Appealing?

Serves as a prevention and early intervention Serves as a prevention and early intervention programprogram

Offers a way to hold juvenile offenders Offers a way to hold juvenile offenders accountableaccountable

Provides a means for educating youth on the Provides a means for educating youth on the legal and judicial systemlegal and judicial system

Provides a meaningful forum for youth to build Provides a meaningful forum for youth to build competencies and practice and enhance skillscompetencies and practice and enhance skills

Offers an avenue for youth to provide service Offers an avenue for youth to provide service for and build ties to their communitiesfor and build ties to their communities

Youth empowermentYouth empowerment

Youth CourtsYouth Courtsin PAin PA

18 Teen Court Programs in Pennsylvania

Location of Youth CourtsLocation of Youth CourtsLocallyLocally

Juvenile Justice System-BasedJuvenile Justice System-Based•CourtsCourts•Law Enforcement AgenciesLaw Enforcement Agencies•Juvenile Probation DepartmentsJuvenile Probation Departments

Community-BasedCommunity-Based•Private Non Profit OrganizationsPrivate Non Profit Organizations

School-BasedSchool-BasedSchool referrals also made to JJ and School referrals also made to JJ and local Community Basedlocal Community Based..

To Find a Youth Court Near You…To Find a Youth Court Near You…

Log on to www.youthcourt.netLog on to www.youthcourt.net

Click on the “National Listing of Click on the “National Listing of Youth Courts” button on the left side Youth Courts” button on the left side of pageof page

Click Pennsylvania and find contact Click Pennsylvania and find contact information.information.

Common ElementsCommon Elements

Juvenile Diversion programsJuvenile Diversion programs Primary First-time low-level offenders – Primary First-time low-level offenders –

11stst or 2 or 2ndnd step in a system of graduated step in a system of graduated sanctionssanctions

Misdemeanor, non-violent casesMisdemeanor, non-violent cases Most Require youth to admit to chargeMost Require youth to admit to charge Most are Voluntary participationMost are Voluntary participation Parental consent/participation Parental consent/participation

mandatory in mostmandatory in most

POM

Tobacco

Assault

Alcohol

Disorderly Conduct

Vandalism

Theft95%87%81%75%71%67%62%

Types of OffensesTypes of Offenses

56%48%42%

Traffic

SchoolDisciplinary

Curfew

Common Sentencing OptionsCommon Sentencing Options

• More meaningful Community More meaningful Community Service that are project orientedService that are project oriented

• Oral/Written Apologies to victimsOral/Written Apologies to victims• Essays on the crime, offense or Essays on the crime, offense or

violation(s) they were referred to violation(s) they were referred to youth court foryouth court for

• Jury Duty in Youth CourtJury Duty in Youth Court• Educational Workshops on laws Educational Workshops on laws

and consequencesand consequences

Additional Sentencing OptionsAdditional Sentencing Options

• RestitutionRestitution• Alcohol/Drug Assessment – not Alcohol/Drug Assessment – not

treatment, as those cases should not treatment, as those cases should not be handled in youth court unless no be handled in youth court unless no other sanction/service exists.other sanction/service exists.

• CurfewCurfew• TutoringTutoring• Victim Awareness Class or PanelVictim Awareness Class or Panel• Drug TestingDrug Testing• Peer MediationPeer Mediation

• Youth volunteers serve in the roles Youth volunteers serve in the roles of:of:• Defense AttorneysDefense Attorneys• Prosecuting AttorneysProsecuting Attorneys• ClerksClerks• BailiffsBailiffs• JurorsJurors

• Adult volunteer serves in the role of:Adult volunteer serves in the role of:• JudgeJudge

Adult Judge ModelAdult Judge Model

• Youth volunteers serve in the role of:Youth volunteers serve in the role of:• Judge Judge • Prosecuting AttorneysProsecuting Attorneys• Defense AttorneysDefense Attorneys• ClerksClerks• BailiffsBailiffs• JurorsJurors

Youth Judge ModelYouth Judge Model

• Youth volunteers serve in the roles Youth volunteers serve in the roles of:of:• Judge(s)Judge(s)• Defense AttorneysDefense Attorneys• Prosecuting AttorneysProsecuting Attorneys• ClerksClerks• BailiffsBailiffs

• There is NO PEER JURYThere is NO PEER JURY

Youth Tribunal ModelYouth Tribunal Model

• Youth volunteers serve as jurors and Youth volunteers serve as jurors and question the defendant directlyquestion the defendant directly

• Some programs use youth and Some programs use youth and community advocatescommunity advocates

Peer Jury ModelPeer Jury Model

Federal Youth Court ProgramFederal Youth Court Programwww.youthcourt.netwww.youthcourt.net

Serves as an information clearinghouse for Serves as an information clearinghouse for information on youth courts information on youth courts

Provides training and technical assistanceProvides training and technical assistance

Develops and provides resources and Develops and provides resources and publicationspublications

Website: Website: www.youthcourt.netwww.youthcourt.net

Training and Technical AssistanceTraining and Technical Assistance

Pennsylvania Training Programs to Pennsylvania Training Programs to Implement or Enhance a Youth Court. Implement or Enhance a Youth Court. • 2007 PBA/PBI Law Day Booklet Lesson: You be 2007 PBA/PBI Law Day Booklet Lesson: You be

the Judge and Jury – pg. 20the Judge and Jury – pg. 20 Technical AssistanceTechnical Assistance

• Administrative and Operational Guides and Administrative and Operational Guides and curriculum.curriculum.

Widener Harrisburg School of Law is Widener Harrisburg School of Law is working in cooperation in setting up a working in cooperation in setting up a Pennsylvania statewide organization.Pennsylvania statewide organization.

Other ResourcesOther Resources

Online training lessonsOnline training lessons• Youth Deliberation processYouth Deliberation process• Case preparation techniques for teen Case preparation techniques for teen

attorneysattorneys WebsiteWebsite

• www.youthcourt.netwww.youthcourt.net• http://www.youthcourt.net/national_listing/Uhttp://www.youthcourt.net/national_listing/U

nited_states/Pennsylvania.pdfnited_states/Pennsylvania.pdf

Federal Youth Court Database to include Federal Youth Court Database to include local and state data and over 6,500 local and state data and over 6,500 individuals.individuals.

Support for Youth Court ProgramsSupport for Youth Court ProgramsFederal funding [the U.S. Department of Federal funding [the U.S. Department of Education, Transportation, Health and Education, Transportation, Health and Human Services and Justice] annually Human Services and Justice] annually provides approximately $650,000 for the provides approximately $650,000 for the coordination of the National Youth Court coordination of the National Youth Court program. Local youth courts are funded by program. Local youth courts are funded by a wide variety of means, but the local a wide variety of means, but the local programs exist mostly through the programs exist mostly through the volunteer effort of involved youth and volunteer effort of involved youth and adults.adults.

Support for Youth Court ProgramsSupport for Youth Court ProgramsContactsContacts

Federal Youth Court ProgramFederal Youth Court ProgramWebsite: Website: www.youthcourt.netwww.youthcourt.net

Phi Alpha Delta Public Service CenterPhi Alpha Delta Public Service CenterBaltimore, MarylandBaltimore, MarylandPSC@PAD.OrgPSC@PAD.Org – Carole Collins, Director – Carole Collins, Director

U.S. Department of Justice/OJJDPU.S. Department of Justice/OJJDPDemonstration DivisionDemonstration DivisionScott B. Peterson, Scott B. Peterson, scott.peterson2@usdoj.govscott.peterson2@usdoj.gov202-616-2368202-616-2368

Pennsylvania Teen Court AssociationPennsylvania Teen Court AssociationDavid Keller Trevaskis, EsquireDavid Keller Trevaskis, Esquiredavid@leap-kids.comdavid@leap-kids.com717-571-7414717-571-7414

William Higgins, Jr., EsquireWilliam Higgins, Jr., EsquireBedford County District AttorneyBedford County District Attorney

205 Juliana Street205 Juliana StreetBedford, PA 15522Bedford, PA 15522

higginslaw@earthlink.nethigginslaw@earthlink.net814-623-4855814-623-4855