The goal of youth court is to use positive peer pressure to ensure that young people who have committed minor offenses pay back the community and receive the help they need to avoid further involvement in the justice system. Each youth court varies in response to the needs and resources of its
community, but typically youth courts handle cases involving young people, ages 10 to 18, who have been c
ited for low-level offenses, such as vandalism, assault, and truancy. Youth courts pursue multiple goals at the same time. First, they hold young people accountable for their actions by requiring them to accept responsibility and pay back the community. Youth court sanctions emphasize restoration, encouraging respondents to make amends through such actions as writing letters of apology and performing community service. Second, youth courts often seek to link troubled teens to needed services, including tutoring, mentoring, and anger-management classes. Third, youth courts provide participants with experiential learning that is designed to complement classroom lessons about government. Youth court members learn first-hand how courts work, stepping into the roles of prosecutors, defenders, jurors, and judges. Youth Court is funded by:
Corporate and Individual Donations
Fundraising Activity
Jefferson County Department of Social Services
Jefferson County Youth Bureau, NYSOCFS
NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services
United Way of Northern New York
Northern New York Community Foundation
