NCJ Number
213215
Date Published
2003
Length
37 pages
Annotation
This kit provides suggestions and resources for youth courts to use in the Second Annual National Youth Court Month (September 2003), which provides youth courts an opportunity to share and celebrate their programs' successes, with a view toward improving and rewarding youth-court participation.
Abstract
The theme for the 2003 National Youth Court Month is "Empowering Youth Through Education and Service." The youth court program offers an alternative forum for addressing youths' minor delinquent behaviors, status offenses, and problems behaviors. Instead of being processed by the juvenile justice system or disciplined by school administrators, youth who come before youth courts have their behaviors assessed by other youth, who have volunteered to become trained as youth court jurors. They learn to evaluate the harms caused by various behaviors of their peers and then tailor court responses according to appropriate accountability for harms done and the interventions needed to prevent reoffending. The themes of education and service are thus integral to the goals of youth courts. The goals of National Youth Court Month are to educate the public about the contributions of youth court programs, to promote support for and participation in youth courts, to celebrate the positive influence of youth courts on participating youth, and to honor the achievements of youth courts and their volunteers, respondents, and staff. This "Action Kit" contains event-planning information for the month, suggested activities, and resources for youth courts to use in community outreach.