The Global
Youth Justice Movement
Youth Court, Teen Court, Peer Court,
Student Court, and Youth Peer Panel
A Local, State, National and
International Perspective
What is a
Youth Justice Program?
A rapidly expanding local juvenile justice
diversion program in which youth are
sentenced by their peers in collaboration with
adults.
Youth Justice Programs are often called
Teen Court, Peer Court, Student Court,
Youth Court and Youth Peer Panel
Common Youth Volunteer Roles
in Youth Justice Hearings*
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Defense Attorney
Prosecuting Attorney
Clerk
Bailiff
Jury Foreperson
Jurors
Youth judge
*Volunteer roles vary according to the
program model the youth justice program
utilizes.
What Makes Youth Justice
Programs Appealing?
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Serve as an education, prevention and
early juvenile intervention program.
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Offers a way to hold juvenile offenders
accountable.
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Provides a means for educating youth on
the legal and judicial system.
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Provide a meaningful forum for youth to
build competencies and practice and
enhance skills.
(Appealing Continued)
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Offers an avenue for youth to provide
service for and build ties to their own local
communities.
Among the least expensive juvenile justice
intervention programs given the strong
volunteer support from youth and adults.
Research and Data collection is yielding
outstanding results.
(Appealing Continued)
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These programs have cross cutting appeal
across many agencies and organizations.
Youth are volunteering in large numbers
across America for these programs adults
are taking the lead to increasingly
establish and enhance them.
These programs are NOT one time
(episodic) service programs. Service is
often continual and even over years.
Location of Youth Justice
Programs in the USA
1994: 78 Youth
Courts in 9
states in USA
2010: About
1,155
Programs in
48 states,
DC and on
Tribes.
CT/RI None.
States without
youth court
programs
Global Youth Justice Locations
(Non-USA)
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Japan
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United Kingdom
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South Korea
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Australia
Common Elements
of Youth Justice Programs
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Juvenile Justice Diversion programs
(formal and informal arrests).
Primary first-time low-level juvenile
crimes, offenses and violations.
Often the 1st or 2nd step in a system of
graduated sanctions.
Misdemeanor, non-violent cases.
Common Elements (cont.)
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Most Youth Justice Programs Require
youth to admit to charge (sentencing
hearings and not trials).
Most are Voluntary participation.
Parental/Guardian Consent and
Participation is Mandatory in most
local Youth Justice programs.
Most Common Types of Crimes,
Offenses and Violations.
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
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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 a
Youth Justice Program for.
Jury Duty in a Youth Justice Program.
Educational Workshops on laws and
consequences.
Additional Sentencing Options
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Restitution.
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Curfew.
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Tutoring.
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Victim Awareness Class or Panel.
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Drug Testing and Mediation.
Adult Judge Model
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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
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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
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Youth volunteers serve as jurors and
question the defendant directly
Some programs use youth and
community advocates
Agencies and Organizations
Operating Youth Justice
Program Operations
42% are Juvenile Justice-Based
(Law Enforcement, Juvenile Courts,
Juvenile Probation)
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22% are Community-Based
36% are School-Based
*Almost all of them are a joint
partnerships of all of the
organizations listed above.
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Guilty vs Not Guilty
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93% of local Youth Justice programs
require youth to admit
guilt/culpability to an offense, crime
or violation. These are sentencing
hearings.
7% of local Youth Justice programs
allow you to plead not guilty. These
are trials.
Youth Justice Program Models
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41 Use the Adult Judge Model
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18% Use the Youth Judge Model
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31% Use the Peer Jury Model
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10% Use the Tribunal Model
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*17% of All programs use 1 or more
models at some time during a year.
Facts and Stats
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53% of Youth Justice Programs
require youth offenders to participate
in Jury Duty one or more times.
55% of Youth Justice programs
operate private hearings and trials.
70% of Youth Justice programs
operate program year round and
30% are only during the school year.
Contact
Global Youth Justice
Training, Technical Assistance and more.
Scott Bernard Peterson
Chief Executive Officer
Global Youth Justice, LLC
Mobile: 202.468-3790
www.GlobalYouthJustice.org
Scott.Peterson@GlobalYouthJustice.org
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