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| Federal Youth Court Program |
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Overview | Funding | Evaluation | TTA | Contacts | Resources | FAQs | | Overview | Top | The Federal Youth Court Program promotes the activities of youth courts, which offer communities a program in which youth are judged by their peers for minor delinquency, status offenses, and problem behaviors. Youth court programs have expanded rapidly, with a record 1,200 youth court programs in 49 States and the District of Columbia.
Although jurisdictions may call their programs different names—youth, teen, or peer courts—the philosophy guiding the programs is the same: to hold juvenile offenders accountable for their actions, educate youth about the judicial and legal systems, empower youth to be active in their communities, and encourage positive behavior. Youth courts typically accept offenses such as theft, vandalism, and disorderly conduct, and other minor offenses. Sentencing options vary widely and can include community service, restitution, jury duty, essay assignments, and educational workshops.
OJJDP established the Federal Youth Court Center in 1997 as a central point of contact for youth court programs in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. In addition to serving as an information clearinghouse, the Center provides training, technical assistance, and resource materials. National guidelines were developed to assist youth court programs in developing policy and implementing practices that promote accountability and integrity in the juvenile justice system. | | Funding | Top | | OJJDP, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools annually provide $700,000 to the Federal Youth Court Program; the federal government has provided more than $5 million to date. | | Evaluation | Top | OJJDP funded the Evaluation of Teen Courts Project (ETC) to assess the effects of juvenile cases being handled in youth courts for nonviolent offenses and misdemeanors compared with those handled in the traditional juvenile justice system. The evaluation, conducted by the Urban Institute, investigated a variety of youth court models.
In 2000, OJJDP published Teen Courts: A Focus on Research, which describes ETC’s first phase. After the Urban Institute completed the 3-year, four-site evaluation in 2002, it published The Impact of Teen Court on Young Offenders, which is based on ETC’s results. The findings suggest that teen courts may be a positive alternative to the traditional juvenile justice system. In three of the four sites evaluated, juveniles handled by youth courts were less likely to reoffend within 6 months than those in the comparison group. The recidivism figures among program youth ranged from 6 to 9 percent.
Copies of evaluation reports from individual youth court programs also are available from the Federal Youth Court Center. | | Training and Technical Assistance | Top | | The Federal Youth Court Center provides training design and curriculum development, onsite and remote training and technical assistance, conference planning and delivery, and publication development and dissemination through a consortium of three private agencies and organizations. | | Contacts | Top | | OJJDP Contact(s) | Sharon Cantelon
Program Manager
202-616-3658
sharie.cantelon@usdoj.gov | | Evaluation Contact(s) | Program on Youth Justice
Urban Institute
2100 M Street NW.
Washington, DC 20037
202-833-7200
paffairs@ui.urban.org
http://www.youth.urban.org | | Training and Technical Assistance Contact(s) | Federal Youth Court Program
P.O. Box 8970
Reno, NV 89507
775-784-6715
775-784-6628 (fax)
youthcourt@ncjfcj.org
http://www.youthcourt.net
| | Resources | Top | | OJJDP Publication(s) | Guide for Implementing Teen Court Programs
Fact Sheet, August 1996. Provides information on the role of teen courts in the justice system and discusses the American Probation and Parole Association's publication Peer Justice and Youth Empowerment: An Implementation Guide for Teen Court Programs. 2 pages. FS 9645.National Youth Court Center
Fact Sheet, May 2000. Provides information on the National Youth Court Center, which was established by OJJDP at the American Probation and Parole Association in Lexington, KY. 2 pages. FS 200007.
AbstractOJJDP News @ a Glance, Volume I, Number 4 (July/August 2002)
Newsletter: OJJDP News @ a Glance Series, July/August 2002. Presents notices of OJJDP activities, publications, funding opportunities, and events; includes a special feature on National Youth Court Month. 6 pages. NCJ 195663.
AbstractYouth Courts: A National Movement Videoconference
Videotape: OJJDP Teleconference Series, May 1998. Examines the youth court concept as a potentially effective strategy in a graduated sanctions model for juvenile offenders and highlights effective practices in youth court programs. NCJ 171149.
Abstract | | Link(s) | Federal Youth Court Program
Provides a state listing of youth courts, links to youth court-related publications and an NYCC mailing list, and offers a list of resources to support communities in their efforts to establish or enhance local youth court programs. | | Other Resources | | | FAQs | Top | | Q: | Who operates youth courts? | | A: | Different types of agencies can operate youth courts. In some communities, a school or school district operates the program. In others, a probation department, law enforcement agency, or juvenile, family, or municipal court may do so. Still other communities may enlist a private, nonprofit organization such as the local Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, or Youth Service Bureau. The youth court itself might be incorporated as a nonprofit organization. | | Q: | How can I find out if there is a youth court near me? | | A: | The Federal Youth Court Center’s Web site provides a national listing of youth courts. If you do not find a youth court listed in your community and are interested in starting one, contact the Center. |
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