Youth for Justice

• NCJ Number: 186161
• Author(s): Paula A. Nessel
• Date Published: April 2001
• Length: 12 pages
• Grant Number(s): 95-JS-FX-0017
• Agencies: OJJDP
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description

Annotation

This bulletin describes the U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention's (OJJDP's) Youth for Justice program, in which OJJDP works with nonprofit organizations to support law-related education projects for youth.

Abstract

The Youth for Justice projects provide resources for classroom teachers, youth workers, and community resource people to use in educating children about the law and citizenship. Although the resources vary from one project to another, they commonly train teachers and lawyers to engage children in learning about various law-related topics; organize student events such as mock trials, moot courts, and peer mediation; provide lending libraries of law-related materials; publish lessons or textbooks; and organize lawyers' visits to classrooms. The projects support law-related education in elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as in other community and juvenile justice settings. Teachers collaborate with lawyers, law students, judges, police officers, government officials, and other members of the community to lead discussions and activities both in and outside the classroom. Students gain critical thinking skills as they debate issues, discuss public policy, and participate in mock trials, youth courts, service learning, and peer mediation programs. Law-related education inculcates protective factors in the youth it educates, thus buffering them from the problems and circumstances that might lead to their involvement in delinquency and other negative behaviors. 12 notes and 8 references