The Youth Commission program is administered through the juvenile probation office. Youth Commissions in Westmoreland County are composed of between 8 to 16 volunteer community members appointed by the Juvenile Court Judge. Volunteers are trained in such matters as the devising of a contract, responsibilities in ensuring contract conditions are completed satisfactorily, and confidentiality requirements. The Commissions meet once a month at a local site (often a school administration or municipal building) to hear cases. Upon assessing the circumstances of a particular offense, the Commission may order a variety of dispositions, including a curfew, placing the youth on supervision for up to 6 months, ordering community service, and referring the youth for additional services through the school district's Student Assistance Program or in-home counseling service. As a mandatory condition of every contract established by a Commission, the youth must provide weekly or monthly progress reports to the Commission. Failure to abide by a Commission contract may result in referral of the case to juvenile court for formal processing. Variations on the Westmoreland County model are described for five other Pennsylvania counties. Components of a successful Youth Commission program are outlined, and future directions are discussed.