Teen Court of Pennsylvania Perspective

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Teen Court of Pennsylvania Perspective
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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
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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.

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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

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Youth Courts in PA
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Location of Youth CourtsLocally

• 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.

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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.

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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

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Types of Offenses
Traffic
School
42
Disciplinary
48
Curfew
56
62
67
71
75
81
87
95
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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

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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

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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

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Youth Judge Model

• Youth volunteers serve in the role of
• Judge
• Prosecuting Attorneys
• Defense Attorneys
• Clerks
• Bailiffs
• Jurors

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Youth Tribunal Model

• Youth volunteers serve in the roles of
• Judge(s)
• Defense Attorneys
• Prosecuting Attorneys
• Clerks
• Bailiffs
• There is NO PEER JURY

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Peer Jury Model

• Youth volunteers serve as jurors and question the
  defendant directly
• Some programs use youth and community advocates

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Federal Youth Court Programwww.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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Support for Youth Court ProgramsContacts

• Federal Youth Court Program
• Website www.youthcourt.net
• Phi Alpha Delta Public Service Center
• Baltimore, Maryland
• PSC_at_PAD.Org Carole Collins, Director
• U.S. Department of Justice/OJJDP
• Demonstration Division
• Scott B. Peterson, scott.peterson2_at_usdoj.gov
• 202-616-2368
• Pennsylvania Teen Court Association
• David Keller Trevaskis, Esquire
• david_at_leap-kids.com
• 717-571-7414

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• William Higgins, Jr., Esquire
• Bedford County District Attorney
• 205 Juliana Street
• Bedford, PA 15522
• higginslaw_at_earthlink.net
• 814-623-4855