National Youth Court Guidelines

Youth court programs have been in existence for more than 50 years. They provide communities an opportunity to impose immediate consequences for first time juvenile offenders, while providing a peer operated disposition mechanism that allows young people to take responsibility, be held accountable, and make amends for violating the law. The Guidelines will be supplemented with seven regional training programs, on-site technical assistance, and cross-site technical assistance, all designed to strengthen the role of youth courts as an effective local prevention and intervention resource. The book includes data on the need for national youth courts as well as guidelines on program planning and community mobilization, program staffing and funding, legal issues, identified respondent population and referral process, program services and sentencing options, volunteer recruitment and management, volunteer training, youth court operations and case management, and program evaluation. Notes, references, resources