Peer Court and SFUSD
Frequently Asked Questions and the Referral Process
How does San Francisco Peer Court work?
San Francisco Peer Court is a city-funded Peer-to-Peer Restorative Justice program that provides leadership
opportunities and restorative alternatives to suspension and arrest. Youth offenders (also called respondents) are
referred to the program to take responsibility for their actions at school and in the community, rather than
advancing through the district’s disciplinary process or the city’s justice system. Generally, a youth who has
committed an offense that usually results in suspension is instead referred to Peer Court. The parent/caregiver is
called and the option of the Peer Court referral instead of suspension is provided to student/family. This is a
voluntary alternative to suspension, arrest, juvenile court or other justice sanctions. Guilt and innocence are not
determined at Peer Court. Rather, the process attempts to identify and repair harm.
What is Restorative Justice (RJ), and why do we use it?
Restorative Justice is an approach that works to repair harm to victims, communities, offenders and families.
Restorative Justice also gives a strong role to the community in promoting offender accountability and community
safety. Restorative Justice can be contrasted to a “punitive approach”, which focuses on punishment and
deterrence, rather than restoration. This approach is effective at reducing future incidents; the recidivism
average in California peer courts is low, only 5.9%.
Why use Peer Courts and RJ programs?
There are many benefits to using restorative justice programs:
1. Better-serve victims and the school community in the discipline process
2. Stakeholders and participants have much more direct access and “say in the process”
3. Reduce the number of suspensions and arrests at school sites and in the district
4. Increase the Average Daily Attendance of SFUSD
5. Provide advanced leadership opportunities to SFUSD students
6. Increase the satisfaction of victims, communities, offenders and families with justice and discipline response
Does Peer Court decide Guilt/Innocence?
No. Respondents who appear before the youth court have admitted responsibility for their actions and are willing
to “repair the harm” they have caused through the sentencing process.
Who serves on the court?
Youth leaders who are recommended by their schools, community organizations, peers or families are welcome
to join the program and complete training. To maintain their status in the program, youth must keep at least a 2.0
GPA, not be currently on probation, and maintain positive behavior at school and in the community.
What are the outcomes?
While the outcomes of each case will be different based on the needs of the participants, most offenders
complete some combination of the following activities as part of their sentence: community service, letters of
apology to victims and family, keeping school progress reports, attending tutoring, life skills, or other coursework,
direct service to victims (when appropriate), restitution for out-of-pocket expenses (when appropriate), projects
at school and any others that are appropriate and restorative.
Peer Court - California Community Dispute Services
149 Natoma St, Suite 300 · San Francisco, CA 94105 · Phone: 415.865.2524 · Fax: 415.865.2538
Student Support Services
Phone:-242-2615 or 695-5543
How do you work with victims?
Direct victims and secondary victims (family, community members) are regularly invited to participate in the
restorative justice process to maximize healing and the impact of the program. Victims can participate in person,
complete written “impact forms,” provide verbal statements to be read at the hearing, or send a representative
to the hearing in their place. All victim participation is voluntary.
What about confidential information?
San Francisco Peer Court utilizes a Court Order signed by Judge Donna Hitchens of the San Francisco Family Court
granting program staff access to otherwise confidential information like police reports, school records and others.
Access to these vital documents helps the program to be more restorative in nature.
What happens if the offender (respondent) does not complete the program?
Peer Court is used as a diversion from suspension, arrest, juvenile court or other punitive sanction. When a case is
referred to Peer Court the original sanction remains in play until the youth respondent completes the program
and satisfies the requirements of the Peer Court disposition. If the respondent fails to complete that disposition or
re-offends while under contract with Peer Court, the case is referred back to the referral source for further action,
the original sanction is put back in place and the youth can be processed via traditional means.
How can I refer volunteers to serve on the Peer Court?
Our website, WWW.PEERCOURT.ORG, has volunteer applications, training announcements, and other useful
information. We can also be reached by phone: 415-865-2524 or by email: tony@peercourt.org.
What types of cases qualify for Peer Court?
A variety of cases such as fist-fighting and carrying fake weapons on campus to theft and graffiti.
A school may refer to peer court for any offense other than a mandatory expulsion referral.
How can I refer a case to Peer Court?
Police officers, school principals, Head Counselors/Deans, and juvenile probation officers can refer youth
respondents into the program using our online referral system at WWW.PEERCOURT.ORG. If you have any
questions about whether a case is appropriate for referral, please email or call: 415-865-2524 or
tony@peercourt.org. Hard copy forms can also be utilized and faxed to Peer Court.
What is the SFUSD Referral Process?
1. Student commits offense
2. School completes incident report, standard process for suspension, etc
3. School decides case is referred to Peer Court and a diversion to suspension-eligiblity based on
handbook guidelines and safety concerns
4. School contacts parents and obtains approval for diversion to peer court
5. School completes online referral form or contacts Peer Court for assistance with referral process
6. Program contacts school, parents, respondents, approves referral
7. School forwards incident report to Peer Court
8. Peer Court process instituted
2009-2010
9. If youth completes program, suspension is excused and diverted
10. If youth fails complete the program suspension or original sanction is re-instituted
Peer Court Process
Peer Court - California Community Dispute Services
149 Natoma St, Suite 300 · San Francisco, CA 94105 · Phone: 415.865.2524 · Fax: 415.865.2538
Student Support Services
Phone:-242-2615 or 695-5543