Youth Court RESTORATIVE JU STICE What is Youth Court? Alternative - - PDF document

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RESTORATIVE JU STICE

Youth Court

What is Youth Court?

 Alternative response to disciplinary problems  Peer-to-peer modeling  Court held by students  Flexible and based on the needs of each school

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Why Youth Court?

 Skill development for students  Demonstrates power of civic engagement  Students are force for positive change  Creates school environment focused on

support rather than punishment Youth Court Components

 Addresses lower-level offenses  Avoids adjudication  Voluntary participation  Diversion from traditional disciplinary

process

 Fosters leadership development  Non-adversarial approach – Youth must

admit to behavior

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Youth Court Goals

 Support students in learning how to modify

behaviors and make better choices

 Provide constructive alternatives to

suspension, detention, and other exclusionary disciplinary practices

 Strengthen school culture and community

through positive peer pressure and student leadership What is Restorative Justice?

 Hypothesis: People are

Happier More cooperative and productive More likely to make positive changes . . .

when authority figures do things w ith them, not to them or for them

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Youth Court as Restorative Justice

 Recognizes personal strengths  Creates a voice for those negatively impacted by

• ffenses

 Prepares and supports students to respond to

negative behaviors in their community

 Creates activities that allow students to repair harm

and make positive contributions to the community

Challenges to Youth Court

 Willingness to allow restorative justice practices in

place of traditional punishment

 Willingness to empower students and trust decision-

making

 Staffing for court if it is an extra-curricular activity

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Current Youth Court

 Chambersburg Area Senior High School

(CASHS)

Operating since 2017 No cost to students or schools Training by Educators, Juvenile Probation,

and Attorneys

Successful completion of 90% of cases

Key Decisions

 Curricular vs. extra-curricular  Types of cases  Sanctions

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Youth Court Options

 Youth Court as part of school curriculum

Ideal due to consistency, scheduling, training,

and opportunities to learn about criminal justice system

Best case scenario – Youth Court is part of 9th or

10 th grade Civics

Students are trained in restorative justice Cases are heard as part of that class period

Youth Court Options

 Youth Court as voluntary program held after

school

Relies on volunteers Students have to find time after school to attend

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Cases Appropriate for Youth Court

 Low-level infractions  Vandalism and theft  Truancy and chronic lateness  Verbal altercations and conflicts  Insubordination  Some instances of fighting

Restorative Sanctions

 Must repair harm  Must address individual needs  Decrease repeat offenses  Takes into account the individual’s ability to

complete assigned tasks

 Focus on learning new skills rather than

punishment

 Sanctions are created by students

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What We Offer

 Training for teachers and staff  Training for students  Some financial support for items such as

laptops and printer paper

 Volunteers to speak to classes about

criminal justice issues What We Need

 Decision on Youth Court as afterschool

program or curriculum

 Decision on types of infractions to be

addressed by Youth Court

 School administration support to use Youth

Court as an alternative

 Use of facility for training and court function

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Youth Court Supporters

 Franklin County Criminal Justice Advisory Board

(CJAB)

 CJAB Juvenile Justice Committee  Franklin County District Attorney’s Office  Franklin County Bar Association through the Young

Lawyers Association

 Pennsylvania Bench Bar Association through the Pro

Bono Services

 Franklin County Juvenile Probation Office  Franklin County Children’s Round Table

Contact Information

 Kati McGrath

 Franklin County Juvenile Probation Office  425 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg, PA 17202  Phone: 717-261-3122  Email: kamcgrath@franklincountypa.gov

 Kim Eaton

 Franklin County Day Reporting Center  550 Loudon Street, Chambersburg, PA 17201  Phone: 717-261-0450 or 717-360-5692  Email: kmeaton@franlincountypa.gov

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Reference

 Volz, G., Saiyed, S., Laubach, K., Williams, N., Levy,

T., Rodriquez-Schroeder, J., & Fan, Z. (2016). Youth court training manual (5th ed.). Philadelphia, PA.

TH AN KS FOR YOU R TIM E AN D CON S ID ER ATION

Thank You!