By: Tracy M. Godwin, Michelle E. Heward, and Tom Spina, Jr. (Published in 2000;146 pages)
Developed by the American Probation and Parole Association/Council of State Government, which administered the National Youth Court Center, the National Youth Court Guidelines are designed to give youth courts direction for developing and operating effective programs for the ultimate purpose of increasing program accountability and integrity of the “youth court field.” Each chapter begins with a brief overview of the guidelines that are recommended for that particular program area. Afterwards, each guideline is discussed in more detail. A rationale for each guideline, as well as tips for implementing each guideline is included. At the conclusion of each chapter there is a section that identifies some outcomes youth court programs might reasonably expect if they adhere to the recommendations made in the guidelines.
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By: Tracy M. Godwin, David J. Steinhart, and Betsy Fulton (Published in 1996; revised in 1998;176 pages, plus appendices)
The American Probation and Parole Association, which administered the National Youth Court Center, developed Peer Justice and Youth Empowerment: An Implementation Guide for Youth Courts to provide program organizers with baseline information on developing, implementing, and enhancing teen court programs within their jurisdictions. Rather than endorsing one particular model of teen court, this manual provides program organizers and potential stakeholders with a general overview of issues to consider and guides them through a decision making process for the implementation of a teen court program that fits local needs. Sample forms and other helpful resources are also included as supplementary materials.
Editor: Tracy Godwin Mullins (Published in 2004, 118 pages)
Developed by the American Probation and Parole Association/Council of State Government, which administered the National Youth Court Center, this monograph features papers on the following six topics:
Addressing Truancy in Youth Court Programs
Underage Drinking and Other Substance Abuse: Opportunities for Prevention and Intervention by Youth Courts
An Overview of School-Based Youth Court Program Design Options
Building Culturally Relevant Youth Courts in Tribal Communities
A Comparison of Statewide Youth Court Associations and Networking Groups
Media Access Guidelines for Youth Courts
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Youth court is rapidly expanding alternative to the juvenile justice system for young people who have committed non-violent offenses, growing from 78 programs in 1994 to 1,050 in August 2005. The goal of this report, developed by the American Youth Policy Forum, is to provide policymakers and the public with an overview of youth court programs including their characteristics and benefits. A great resource for national data regarding youth served, who benefits from youth courts existence, recidivism, average operating costs, etc.
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Every youth court can relate a favorite anecdote or two about how its program has had a positive impact on individuals and their communities. Maybe it’s a story about a former respondent who joined youth court as a volunteer after completing his youth court disposition, and later in life became an attorney. Or, maybe it is a story about a shy young girl who never felt confident enough to speak up in class before she volunteered for youth court and had an opportunity to learn and practice public speaking skills on a regular basis.
The “success stories” included within this document are heartwarming and a joy to read. They remind us of the wonderful benefits that youth court programs offer to our nation’s young people, families, and communities.
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More frequently across the United States, young people are delivering justice to their peers who have engaged in their first delinquent act or other problem behavior. At the same time, these young people are learning important citizenship knowledge and skills. Youth courts, also known as teen courts and peer juries, involve volunteers from 8 to 18 years of age in sentencing their peers for crimes, traffic infractions, or school rule violations.
Instead of being ignored by the juvenile court system for a minor offense, youth court respondents1 confront and address the impact of their behavior on all victims. Instead of just paying a fine in traffic court, youth who commit traffic infractions explore the impact of their careless driving and have a chance to find out more about the harm they caused. Instead of being suspended from school for multiple truancies, youth court respondents learn what impact truancy has on themselves, their families, their schoolmates, and the community. In each case, young people get a chance to make up for the harm they caused and develop needed competencies.
This Roadmap examines the nature, structure, and benefits of youth courts and explores the roles played by a variety of government and community entities. It highlights examples of successful youth courts throughout the United States – ones based in juvenile justice settings, community settings, and school settings. It spotlights unique innovations in youth courts and discusses statewide associations that play a role in supporting and networking youth courts within a state.
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In Session is a quarterly newsletter for youth court coordinators, volunteers, and others interested in youth court. Each issue of In Session contains valuable information about publications, resources, and training opportunities, articles on current youth court issues, updates about the Federal Youth Court Program's website, and more!
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This online article discusses the benefits of incorporating conflict resolution skill building as part of the youth court competency development component for defendants and for volunteers. It also introduces readers to a 6-step group problem-solving by consensus model that youth court jurors/judge panelists can be taught.
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