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Youth Courts
In communities across the United States, youth courts are becoming components of the juvenile justice system. Many people view them as cost-effective alternatives to traditional juvenile court for some young offenders. (Teen Courts: A Focus on Research, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention)
While jurisdictions may call their programs different names (youth court, teen court, or peer court), the guiding philosophy for the programs is the same: hold juvenile offenders accountable for their actions, educate youth about the legal and judicial systems, and empower youth to be active in their communities. (National Youth Court Center, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention)
Youth court programs offer an avenue for engaging the community in a partnership with the juvenile justice system to respond to the problem of juvenile crime by (1) increasing awareness of the delinquency issues within the local community, and (2) mobilizing community members (including youth) to take an active role in addressing the problem of juvenile crime within the community. (Peer Justice and Youth Empowerment: An Implementation Guide for Teen Court Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention)
In recognition of National Youth Court Month (September) and to be used as a resource throughout the rest of the year, NCJRS presents this online compilation of resources focusing on youth courts. Please select a page from the below listing or from the box at the right under the Youth Courts heading to learn more about this topic:
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