00374-NYCC2007-2008 Calendar Action Kit 6-4-07a

8/14/2019 00374-NYCC2007-2008 Calendar Action Kit 6-4-07a

1/44


2/44


3/44

Ofce of Juvenile Justice andDelinquency Prevention

810 Seventh Street NW

Washington, DC 20531E-mail: [email protected]

National Highway Trafc SafetyAdministration

400 Seventh Street SWWashington, DC 20590E-mail: [email protected]

Ofce of Safe and Drug-Free School400 Maryland Avenue SW

Washington, DC 20202E-mail: [email protected]

Phi Alpha Delta Law FraternityPublic Service Center

345 North Charles Street, Tird Floor

Baltimore, Maryland 21201E-mail: [email protected]

National Association ofYouth Courts, Inc.

345 North Charles Street, Second FloorBaltimore, Maryland 21201E-mail: [email protected]

National Council ofJuvenile and Family Court Judges

PO Box 8970Reno, Nevada 89507E-mail: [email protected]

Honorary ChairpersonKatie Sel, Sarasota, Florida

Honorary National Committee

Sharon Leon Lisa Albert-Konecky Ginny Espenshade

Candace Brower Robert Coghill Charlsie Cordova

David Berni William Grahm Judson Kate Spaulding

Karen Green Eduardo F. Cue Jo Ann Allen

Hon. Richard Couzens Patrick Dana Stephanie Glass

Jon Messick David Medvec rish Borresen

Stephanie Breach Gary Kepley David Kidd

Candace Fuji Sandra Porter-Phillips Bonita Scha

Lorna Stephen Brandon Halleck Robin Winkeld

Hon. Karen Tomas Melissa Goins EA USA John Duncan

Linda Anson Pat Faulkinberry Kathy Haas

Elizabeth Hollingsworth Shonda Houston E. Rick Miller

Carole Collins Georgine DeBoard Maryellen Kraese

James Gossage Antonia Hernandez Karen Garcia

David Garcia Violet Colydas Judy Wole

Stacey Whitely Andrew Placito Johnice Autry

Glenn Faison Glenda Ansley Lessie Penn

Hon. Joe Board Donald Lanier Marlene odd

Michelle Brink-Gluhosky Noreen Plummage Anjanette Eash

Linda Schenk Marjorie McCoy Myra Weeks

Sandy Varner ammy Hawkins Kathleen Zeitlin

Lori Silcox Karlene Peart Susan Goettsch

Rick Peters Danetta Rutten Pam Inglesby

Nancy Livingston Katrina Eiseldt Margaret McCulloughDenise Kervin Jaime Hawk Mark Hall

An extraordinary and cohesive group o 76 individuals joinedto establish the rst ever private national association to representlocal youth courts, teen courts, student courts and peer courts acrossAmerica. Tis association is called the National Association oYouth Courts, Inc. and will become ully operational in 2008. Teindividuals above are to be commended as ounding members. Tese76 individuals serve as the 22-member board o trustees and the 54national committee members.

Ms. Katie Sel is designated as the 2007 National Chairperson

as she is the 1st President o the 22-member board o trustees othe National Association o Youth Courts, Inc. On behal o thethousands o sta and adult volunteers across America who keepour programs operational and provide valuable and much needed

prevention and intervention services to our children and youthwejoin to congratulate the Honorary Committee and Chairperson.

We would like to thank Tracy Godwin-Mullins, Lisa Ginter, John R. Higgins, Britney Batz and Scott Peterson

their contributions to this years National Youth Court Month Planning and Action Guide.


4/44

The Local Grass-Roots National

Movement Continues...Statistic

1,301 .............................................................A record number of local youth court, teen court, peer court andstudent court programs in the United States of America. Only aboutfty (50) oca pogas w opationa in 1993.

49 .....................................................................A record number of states that now have an operational local youthcourt, teen court, peer court or student court program. The District ofCoubia aso as an opationa poga. Ony about six (6) statsa opationa pogas in 1993.

21 .....................................................................A record number of States that have formal and informal StateYouth Court and Teen Court Associations and Networking Groups.

Appoxiaty two (2) stat association o stat ntwoing goupsw xisting in 1993.

125,000.......................................................A record number of youthful offenders and juvenile delinquents whowere accepted annually for disposition and sentencing by theirpeers in local youth court, teen court, student court and peer courtpogas acoss Aica. No ata is aaiab fo t ya 1993. If

it were the number would be considerably less given the recordnumber of local programs in America.

110,000.......................................................A record number of junior and high school age volunteers annuallyas judge, prosecutor, defender, clerk/bailiff, jury foreperson and/or as

jurors in local youth court, peer court, student court and teen courtsacoss Aica. No ata is aaiab fo t ya 1993. If it w

the number would be considerably less given the record number oflocal programs in America.

Additionally, hundreds of communities are implementing new youth court programs as the Global Youth JusticeMovement continues. These programs have emerged as the most replicated intervention and diversion programinc t stabisnt of t st U.S. Juni Cout in 1899. Tns of tousans of auts a now ino annuay

across America in these programs. These adults serve as staff and volunteers and are setting a new record withegards to the number who are involved with these programs.

Fo o infoation about t Nationa Association of Yout Couts, Inc., annitiative of the Federal Youth Court Program, please log on to www.youthcourt.ne

o contact Scott Ptson ([email protected]) o

Bitny Batz ([email protected]).

NATIONAL YOUTH COURT MONTH ACTION KIT


5/44

PLANNING CHECKLIST

Establish a local planning committee to assist in the coordinationo 2007 National Youth Court Month events. Local planningcommittee members may include youth court sta, youth and adult

volunteers, and representatives rom partner organizations or otherkey stakeholder groups (e.g. juvenile court, juvenile probation, lawenorcement, schools). Each year, reevaluate your committee. Arethere additional community members that you would like to add?

Determine what you want to do. Consider the ollowing:What do you want to accomplish with the activity or event(e.g. recruit new volunteers, honor current volunteers, gainrecognition or your program, or educate respondents)?Do you want to conduct an activity or event that is a one-day ormulti-day event?

What type o activity or event will help you accomplish yourgoal?

Who do you want/need involved in conducting the event oractivity (e.g., youth volunteers, adult volunteers, respondents,

youth court sta)? Are these persons willing and able to assistyou?How many people will be required to complete the activity orevent?I there is inclement weather, will that aect the outcome o the

event (e.g. I it rains, will the event have to be cancelled)?Does your event conict with another major event in which yourvolunteers or constituents may be involved(i.e. band concert,sporting events, etc.)?

Join with other organizations to plan and organize NationalYouth Court Month events. When determining local or stateorganizations that may be able to assist you in your eorts, keeptrack o the ollowing inormation:

Name o OrganizationContact Person or OrganizationContact Persons Work Hours and Best ime to Call

AddressPhone NumberFax NumberEmail Addressype o Support Organization Can ProvideKeep a telephone log to track the date and time that you calledthe prospective organization and what the response was rom theorganization. You also can reer to this log in uture years whendetermining the types o organizations with which to partner.

Develop a budget or your activity or event. Determine i and whattype o monetary unds or in-kind donations you need to conduct

The theme for the 2007 National Youth Court Month, Empowering Youth-Experiencing Justice provides a greattarting point for planning events to showcase the benets of your programto the community as a whole and tondividuals. The following are some suggestions for preparing for National Youth Court Month.

your activity or event.Develop an action plan that outlines tasks or completing the

project, who will be assigned to specic tasks, and when the tasks be completed. Review your action plan regularly to make sure thiare going as planned.

Determine how you will obtain unds and in-kind support. Ascommittee members to contact various potential supporters to sotheir assistance and acknowledge all who contribute (both nancand through in-kind support).

Gather statistics on your program and educate any youth and aduwho will be serving as spokespersons or your program so they wilbe prepared to share inormation with others during National YouCourt Month activities and events. Some helpul statistics to knoare:

When your program was implemented.Te number o cases you handle in a year.Te types o oenses your program accepts.Te types o agencies who reer cases to your program.Te types o sentencing options your program utilizes.Te number o youth and adult volunteers involved in your

program.

Your annual operating budget.Te type o agencies and organizations that support yourprogram through nancial or in-kind support.Data on your programs eectiveness.

Familiarize yoursel with national statistics on youth courts. Ycan nd a link to updated national youth court acts and stats on Federal Youth Programs website by clicking on Facts and Stats othe top navigation bar. Another helpul report or national data isYouth Court: A Community Solution or Embracing At-Risk Youththe American Youth Policy Forum that can be downloaded rom tFederal Youth Programs website (www.youthcourt.net) by clickinthe Publications button on the le side o the homepage.

Invite local media to cover your event or activity. No matter howmuch time and eort you put into your activity, it will not be a suunless you get the word out. See the ips or Involving Media in tAction Kit or more inormation on strategies involving the medi

Document your event by taking pictures and collecting copies onewspaper articles about your event or activity. Make sure to getappropriate waivers and release orms signed by youth and parentguardian when taking and using photos o youth.

Send a thank you note to everyone who helped you with this proor activity.


6/44

SUGGESTED LOCAL ACTIVITIES

Suggested Local ActivitiesTe ollowing suggested activities are designed to assist you in developing events around this years theme, Empowering Youth, Experiencing Justi

Many o the activities and events suggested have been successully sponsored by youth court programs during the past celebrations o National YouthCourt Month. Tese activities and events have been organized into two categories:

Increasing Public Awareness and Support or Your ProgramRecruiting, raining, Organizing, Recognizing and Retaining Volunteers

Customize the suggested activity or event to meet your needs, or come up with your own unique idea. You can also nd additional ideas or activr events on Youth Service Americas website at www.ysa.org or in Giving Back: Introducing Community Service LearningImproving Mandated

Community Service or Juvenile Oenders (available or download on the Federal Youth Court Programs website at www.youthcourt.net). Somerograms plan one activity or event, while others plan a series o activities and events throughout the month. Do what works best or your agency! Iour state has a state youth court association, network with other programs in your state to plan at least one statewide event in support o National Yo

Court Month. As always, dont orget to share your plans or National Youth Court Month with the National Association o Youth Courts, Inc. Emescription o your planned activities and events to [email protected].

Increasing Public Awareness and Support for Your ProgramI you dont tell your own story, who is going to know why your youth court exists, how it wor

or how it benets your community? National Youth Court Month is a prime occasion or telling oabout the great things that your youth court does. Te ollowing are some suggested activities andevents you can conduct to increase the publics awareness about your program, share your programsuccesses, and generate more support or your program.Host an open house or law enorcement, juvenile court, juvenile probation, judges, school person

youth service organizations, parents, and other key stakeholders in your community to educate theabout your program.Present a mock hearing or key stakeholders and other community members to let them see how

youth court works. Conduct a panel discussion aer the hearing to give participants an opportunitask youth volunteers questions.

Deliver a presentation to community civic groups, schools, and raternal and aith-based organizaon the benets o youth court. You can also use this opportunity to recruit adult volunteers. Natio

youth court acts and statistics that can be used to enhance your presentation may be ound on theFederal Youth Court Programs website.Have a proclamation or resolution signed or National Youth Court Month. An elected or appoiexecutive, such as the Governor, County Executive, or Mayor makes a proclamation. A legislativebody, such as your state legislature, county commission, or city council adopts a resolution. Have t

proclamation or resolution printed in the newspaper or read on local television or radio programs.Display the proclamation or resolution in your youth court ofces, courthouse, and other public plI there is a signing ceremony, arrange or some o your youth to talk about the value o youth courthem and to the community. Be sure to arrange or media coverage.Visit your city or county electocials and arrange or some o your youth to talk about the value o youth court to young peopleto the community.

Sponsor an essay contest or elementary, middle, junior high, and/or high school students (gr3-12). Using the theme o 2007 National Youth Court Month, Empowering Youth, Experiencing

Justice, ask students to write essays that describe their view o how youth courts empower youth anadminister justice in their communities. Select a panel o judges that includes representatives romcriminal and juvenile justice systems, law enorcement, and community leaders. Request local businand community service organizations to donate prizes. Arrange or the essays to be printed in the lor school newspapers, as well as displayed in the courthouse during National Youth Court Month.Sponsor an awards ceremony that honors the winners, either during a public event or a school assemInvite the winners to read their winning essays during a ceremony or National Youth Court Monthbeore a mock hearing at a school.Create an art exhibit. Have youth volunteers and/or respondents make posters to hang in local schand/or public places about how youth court empowers youth and administers justice. Consider tak

the 6-10 best posters and having them all reproduced and printed on one poster that can be displayand used throughout the year to promote your program.


7/44

Organize a Bring-a-Friend to Youth Court Night. Encourageall current youth court volunteers to bring a riend to a special

youth court event. ypes o events may include an open house,mock hearing, training program, special presentation, or social orrecreational outing sponsored by the youth court. Have volunteerapplications on hand to distribute to all youth who attend.Put a banner on your local youth court programs website invitpeople to volunteer or your program. Link the banner to yourprograms email address so that prospective volunteers can email yto let you know o their interest.Create bumper stickers, bookmarks, ribbons, and other

promotional items to advertise your program and to recruitvolunteers. Distribute the items to current volunteers, respondenvolunteer and respondent amily members, key stakeholders, andother community members so that your program will garner morname recognition.Conduct a pre-service training program or new volunteers toeducate them about youth court and to prepare them or their

volunteer roles. You can also conduct an in-service training prograor current volunteers to enhance their knowledge o a particularsubject (e.g., the eect o crime on victims) or to enhance their skin a certain area (e.g., questioning, case preparation, deliberation)to the Federal Youth Court Programs website or curricula and otresources that have been developed to assist you in conducting vatraining programs.Organize a state youth court conerence or youth volunteers an

program sta.Hold a volunteer banquet or recognition ceremonyand give acerticate o appreciation to all volunteers.Provide a list o the names o your programs volunteers to thelocal newspaper or them to publish, recognizing their service to t

program. You can also submit a list o volunteers names to schoolnewspapers. Dont orget to list them in your programs newsletteOrganize a recreational or social event or youth court volunte(e.g., spend the day at a local amusement park, go bowling, havea pizza party) to give them an opportunity to relax and enjoy the

company o other volunteers and program sta.Solicit unds that will allow you to purchase t-shirts, pins, gym baetc. that you can provide to all o your volunteers as a thank you.Create a youth court scholarship and award the scholarship to aoutstanding youth volunteer during National Youth Court MontAsk local businesses to contribute to the scholarship und.

If you a ooing fo pubications an

resources that:

Oer instruction on developing a youth court programContain curricula or training volunteersContain lesson plans or educational workshops or respondentsProvide an overview o the eectiveness o youth courtsProvide useul statistical inormation on youth courtsOer insight on new ways to enhance youth court programs

practices

Then, visit our website today!

WWW.YOUTHCOURT.NET

Have youth volunteers and/or respondents create a large banneron canvas. Hang the banner in approved public places such as thecourthouse and schools.Contact local media to encourage them to eature stories on your

youth court during National Youth Court Month. Also send pressreleases or media advisories or events and activities your program isdoing or National Youth Court Month.Arrange or a representative rom your program (e.g., youthvolunteers, staf, adult volunteers) to appear on local television orradio news shows to promote youth court and to discuss the benetsto young people and the community.

Ask local companies to add a tag line to their advertisements thatshows their support o your local youth court and o National YouthCourt Month.Prepare public service announcements related to youth court andNational Youth Court Month. Contact television and radio stationsto arrange or the public service announcements to be broadcastduring National Youth Court Month.Place a banner on your local programs website publicizing NationalYouth Court Month. Is there going to be a banner that can bedownloaded rom www.youthcourt.net this year? I so, reerence thathere.Organize and conduct a undraiser (e.g., gol tournament, bowl-a-thon) or your program. Advertise the event and solicit participationrom the community at-large to spread the word about your programand to solicit new unds.

Recruiting, Training, Organizing,Recognizing and Retaining Volunteers

Tis past year, the Federal Youth Court Program unveiled a newcronym related to the work that youth courts do with youth and adultolunteersR-ORR. R-ORR stands or Recruiting, raining,

Organizing, Recognizing and Retaining Volunteers. National Youth CourtMonth is an opportune time to implement events and activities espousedn the R-ORR approach. Some sample activities and events that you canonduct include:

Conduct a recruitment drive and ollow up with a training seminaror new volunteers.Review your programs current use o adult and youth volunteers.Determine additional areas in which you can use volunteer assistance.Develop new volunteer job descriptions and then go out and recruit!Contact local schools and service clubs (e.g., Boy Scouts, GirlScouts) to nd out i they have any community service requirementsor their students or members that could be ullled through

participation in youth court. Inorm the organization about youthcourt and, i an agreement is reached or service to the program toqualiy or credit toward community service, then work with thosegroups to educate the youth about the program and ways in whichthey can volunteer.

Set up a youth court booth or display table at a local school,community air, or local youth service organizations. Sta thebooth or display with youth court volunteers to educate studentsabout youth court and recruit new members.Create a visual display o youth court materials (e.g., table top,bulletin board) about your youth court program. You may want to doseveral displays and to exhibit at more than one location. Place thesedisplays in prominent areas, such as the lobby o the city or countyofce building, the courthouse, a school, or other public places.Conduct a mock hearing at local middle and high schools. Arrangeto conduct the mock hearing during a school assembly or during acivics or social studies class. I possible, let the audience break into

small groups to participate as jurors.


8/44

AlaskaTe Mat-Su Youth Court celebrated its ten year anniversary last

ear. Tey publicized this anniversary to the community during NationalYouth Court Month. In addition, in an eort to recruit new volunteers, the

rogram held mock sentencing hearings in its local shopping mall; eatureddisplay, posters/phrases/collage o pictures in its local courthouse to

how o ten years o students handling real cases o their peers in theourthouse; and broadcasted radio spots letting the public know about itsen year anniversary. Lastly, they created a scrapbook o pictures rom overhe years to give to the amily o Jim Messick (the ounder o the program).

Te scrapbook was presented to his amily during their all volunteer classraduation.

North Star Youth Court in Fairbanks, Alaska conducted a mock triallinic or current attorneys and interested community members as part ots National Youth Court Month estivities. Te event was advertised viaSAs promoting National Youth Court Month.

ArizonaPima County een Court hosted a two-part eacher raining or

ducators in the een Court in the Schools (CIS) program. Part Onewas designed or educators with one or more years experience teachingCIS. It ocused on restorative justice. Participants brainstormed ways toncrease the restorative nature o their schools programs. Ideas includedsing Victim Impact Statements and suggesting meaningul communityervice projects as opposed to general janitor assistance. Part wo was orducators new to CIS. It was a train-the-trainer workshop. Participantsracticed writing opening statements, witness examinations, closingrguments, and objections, everything they need to teach a een Courtlass and ended with a mock trial incorporating all the inormation learned

n the workshop.

loridaTe Lake County, Florida een Court program celebrated National

Youth Court Month by presenting a proclamation in support o youthourts by the Board o County Commissioners, increasing volunteerecruitment eorts, conducting volunteer training sessions, hostingVolunteer Recognition Party (the 2006 theme is a LUAULet Us

Appreciate U); and publishing stories and announcements about therogram through various media outlets.

Georgia

Dublin-Laurens County een Court conducted observationalurvey seatbelt checks at each local high school and distributed couponso each student driver that was buckled up appropriately. Tis project wassed to promote trafc saety and seatbelt saety among teenage drivers.

een court student volunteers and school organizations assisted in thisroject.

THINGS TO DO

KentuckyTe Mayors o Berea and Richmond, Kentucky as well as the Mad

County Judge-Executive were invited to watch the Madison County Court perorm a Mock rial on September 6th. While there, they alsosigned proclamations or National Youth Court Month.

LouisianaNational Youth Court Month plans included a massive teen volun

recruitment drive. Tey attempted to get all parish principals to excusecourt volunteers rom school on Friday, September 8, 2006 or a 1-daytraining. Fortunately, two schools have law magnet programs, as well atheir own courtrooms. Te Alexandria Bar Association, Young LawyDivision provided lunch or the training along with their expertise. TYoung Lawyers volunteer throughout the year as our judges. Te 9th

Judicial Circuit also worked with the local mall to set up an inormatiobooth.

Te Webster Parish een Court, which is unded by the Bossier/Webster Ofce o the District Attorney, had a pizza party or the localvolunteers in celebration o National Youth Court Month, beore theirSeptember 25, 2006, een Court.

New YorkTe Warren County Youth Court Program set aside September

2006, or the National Youth Court Day. Tey presented some acts abyouth court and hosted a mock trial that was open to the public. Tey recognized their volunteers who worked so hard to get the program uprunning.

Te Livingston County Youth Court conducted a mock hearingSeptember 25, 2006, or National Youth Court Month.

South CarolinaIn honor o National Youth Court Month, the South Carolina

Youth Court Association sponsored its rst Statewide Youth Summitand raining Seminar on September 30, 2006. Tere were tracks or yoand adult volunteers. As part o the celebration they held a luncheon ainvited stakeholders.

South DakotaFor several years during National Youth Court Month, Central

een Court has held open houses (mock trials and rereshments). Whadvertising the een Court event, they asked that those attending brin

items to donate to the animal shelter (cat and dog ood, kitty litter, etcthe open house with them. Te volunteers then take the items tothe shelter.

or Youth Court Month


9/44

TennesseeTe ennessee Youth Court Program held a Youth Court Day or

eens involved in youth and teen courts on Saturday, September 30, 2006.Te event was conducted at Wilson Central High School and oeredessions that teen court members chose by voting online. Session optionsncluded a variety o topics such as dating violence, student rights at school,egotiation skills and emale oenders.

In 2002, then Governor Don Sundquist declared September toe National Youth Court Month in ennessee. A press conerence waseld and ennessee Supreme Court Chie Justice Frank F. Drowota and

Davidson County Juvenile Court Judge Betty Adams Green were on hand

o laud youth courts in ennessee or their eorts and educational benets.Governor Phil Bredesen has been asked to declare September 2003National Youth Court Month in our state.

TexasTe Wichita County een Court located in Wichita Falls conducted

massive recruitment drive in the local middle and high schools in the areas well as an annual training o volunteers. Te board o directors had aundraiser dinner at a live dinner theatre. In addition, they hosted a bootht the local Fall Festan annual event where beads were provided as prizes.

Utah

Salt Lake Peer Court held its annual Swearing-In Ceremony oneptember 12, 2006 or 90 youth volunteers and their amilies. Juvenile

Court Judge Andrew Valdez spoke and conducted the swearing-in. Terelso was one student speaker. City ofcials and other stakeholders werenvited to attend this evening ceremony.

WashingtonClallam County een Court is doing a month long radio series

Crime Prevention ips or Citizens o Clallam County. een Courtmembers will pre-record tips o their own making hoping to enhance youthelationships with community, police and especially senior citizens. een

Court members will also maintain a speakers calendar or service clubs andommunity organizations who wish youth to speak on community crime

revention, and using kids to deliver messages or crime ree communities.Te Turston County Youth Court participated in National Youth

Court Month by conducting a tour o local schools throughout the montho recruit new volunteer students.

WisconsinIn September, 2005, in celebration o National een Court Month,

heWisconsin een Court Association held its third state conerence.

Te event provided 54 youth and 28 adults an opportunity to learn, shand grow. Te conerence was held in a central location to allow all othe states een Courts an opportunity to attend. WCA was awarde

Juvenile Justice Award Grant to help local programs aord to bring yovolunteers to the conerence.

Te conerence began with a poverty simulation. Te Bridges outPoverty Simulation is designed to help participants begin to understan

what it might be like to l ive in a typical low-income amily. Aer thepoverty simulation participants took part in a networking lunch. Teyouth were particularly interested in talking with volunteers rom otheeen Courts rom across the state to share how their een Courts oper

During lunch, all o our states een Courts and Coordinators werehonored or their years o service.

Aer lunch, participants had the opportunity to choose rom vebreakout sessions. One o the breakout sessions, entitled een Court Sup, gave those who were considering starting a een Court the chance discover what a teen court might look like in their community. Tey aldiscussed unding sources, logistics, and capacity building. Seasoned Court volunteers and coordinators could choose rom eam BuildingActivities, een Brain Development, Diversity raining, and Empowe

Victims in Your een Court Process. Te second track saw repeats oseveral o the breakouts, as well as What is Peer Pressure? and Wisconseen Court Association Scholarship Development.

Te day was concluded with round table discussions. Groups wergiven an opportunity to discuss what they learned and to make plans timplement change in their een Courts. Both youth and adults had grcomments about the conerence. One participant said, What I liked mabout this years conerence was the variety o sessions oered in additito the networking with others programs. I was very impressed with thteenagers present. Te pizza meal was very good & the awards present

was very nice. Tank you. Te conerence was a great success and theto National Youth Court Month helped to make it even more special.

Additional IdeasProclamations

On a local level, individual programs can have their mayor or county executive make a similar proclamation or their city or county. A basicdra o a proclamation is in this action kit, along with a sample letter to be sent to the designated ofcial.

Hall of HonorOne way to recognize the hard work done by volunteers o these programs is the Volunteer Hall o Honor. Please submit your nominations to

[email protected] or recognition in the Fall Issue o the In Session Newsletter.

Mock CaseHosting a mock trial to demonstrate what goes on during a youth court session is another way to help others in the community learn about

youth court and showcase the skills and abilities o youth court volunteers. Holding an event like this on a weekday evening or in conjunction withanother compatible event in your community will boost attendance. Another idea would be to work with another youth court in your area so thatboth communities can watch a sample case. One set o volunteers would serve as the prosecution while the other youth court volunteers serve as t

deense.


10/44

R-TORR(Recruit, Train, Organize, Recognize and Retain Volunteers)

Concept Deeloped by Scott B. Peterson

Note: Unless otherwise specied, all publications identied in this handout are aailable or download on the Federal Youth Court Programs website at wwouthcourt.net by clicking on the Publications button. o inquire i hard copies are aailable, email the Federal Youth Court Program at youthcourt@ncjrg.

RecruitYouth and adult volunteers are the backbone o youth court programs. Resources available to help recruit volunteers include:Peer Justice and Youth Empowerment: An Implementation Guide or een Court Programs (Chapter 8)National Youth Court Guidelines (Chapter 7)

Volunteer Recruitment Posters (available in youth, teen, peer, and student court versions). Order online at www.youthcourt.net/resources/postersSample Youth Court Forms (available in Word and PDF ormats).

Youth Volunteer Job Application templateAdult Volunteer Job Application template

Volunteer Job Description templateo access, click on the Resources button on the le side o the Federal Youth Court Programs homepage, and then click on the Sample Youth

Court Forms link.RFI Responses. Tere is a section on the Federal Youth Court Programs website that contains compilations o responses that youth courtcoordinators have provided on various questions/issues o concern related to operating a program. Tere are several responses currently posted tcan assist when recruiting volunteers such as how to recruit home school youth and inormation on schools that allow youth to receive school cror participation in youth courts. o locate these responses, click on the Resources button on the Federal Youth Court Programs website and tclick on the Request or Inormation Responses link. New topics are added periodically, so this is a section o the website that you may want to voen to see i new inormation has been posted.

TrainDeveloping an eective volunteer training component is an essential component to any youth court program. raining provides volunteers with

nowledge and skills needed to perorm their assigned tasks eectively and efciently. raining also provides volunteers with an opportunity or persorowth and enrichment. Te ollowing resources are available to assist you in preparing or and delivering training or youth volunteers:

Peer Justice and Youth Empowerment: An Implementation Guide or een Court Programs, Chapter 8

National Youth Court Guidelines: Chapter 8Youth Volunteer raining Package, developed by the American Bar Association. o order call the American Bar Association Service Center at 1285-2221. Cost or total package is $45 and includes an Instructors Guide, our Student Manuals based on the our primary models o youth coa video, and a CD-ROM that can be used to customize the materials. You also may order components o the Volunteer raining Package separatGetting the Most Out o the Deliberation Process lesson. eaches youth how to deliberate more eective, restorative, and constructive sentencdispositions or respondents. Available in several ormats:

Video and Facilitator Guide (available in VHS and DVD ormats). Contact the Federal Youth Court Program at (775) 784-6715, email:[email protected], website: www.youthcourt.net.Getting the Most Out o the Deliberation Process online lesson available on the Federal Youth Court Program website by clicking on theOnline raining button on the homepage.

Street Law or Youth Courts: Educational Workshops. Provides lesson plans or training youth on issues such as impact o crime on victims,bullying and sexual harassment, possession o alcohol, the/shopliing, etc. Download the entire manual or individual lessons by clicking on thPublications button on the Federal Youth Court Programs homepage.Preparing Your Case. An online lesson that youth deense and prosecuting attorneys can take to teach them eective strategies or preparing thcases or youth court hearings (e.g., preparing opening and closing statements, appropriate questions to ask, how to prepare clients, etc.). Te lesavailable on the Federal Youth Court Programs website by clicking on the Online raining button.Web Search: What do our Laws and Policies Say About Underage Drinking. Tis online lesson teaches youth about underage drinking andalcohol-related driving laws, the eects/risks o underage drinking, and programs and laws in their states that are designed to reduce underagedrinking and drinking and driving. Tere is an optional second part to the lesson that is designed as a classroom lesson and included in the StreeLaw or Youth Courts: Educational Workshops publication. You can access the online lesson by clicking on the Online raining button on thFederal Youth Court Programs homepage.Sample Volunteer raining Agenda (available in Word and PDF ormats). o access, click on the Resources button on the le side o the FedeYouth Court Programs homepage, and then click on the Sample Youth Court Forms link.

0


11/44

OrganizeAll youth courts rely on youth and/or adult volunteers to perorm court ofcer roles during the hearing; however the extent to which and the

apacity in which volunteers are used among programs varies. Involving community members in youth court in creative ways can help increase suppond ownership o your program and help reduce the workload o overburdened sta. Te donation o volunteers time and resources can also helpacilitate better or more eective use o program sta s time and potentially decrease some o the operating costs associated with programs. Resourcevailable to help when examining issues related to organizing and managing volunteers include:

Peer Justice and Youth Empowerment: An Implementation Guide or een Court ProgramsChapter 8Appendix D contains sample orms including assignment or upcoming trial, jury duty summons, oath o condentiality, attorney case analorm, baili s record, clerks record o hearing, and judges hearing notes.

Appendix F contains several sample volunteer resources include sample volunteer job descriptions, a volunteer application, and a volunteeragreement orm.

National Youth Court Guidelines, Chapter 7Sample Youth Court Forms (available in Word and PDF ormats).

Code o Conduct or VolunteersClient Case Inormation Sheet

Volunteer Case Schedule.o access, click on the Resources button on the le side o the Federal Youth Court Programs homepage, and then click on the Sample Youth

Court Forms link.RFI Responses. Tere is a section on the Federal Youth Court Programs website that contains compilations o responses that youth courtcoordinators have provided on various questions/issues o concern related to operating a youth court. Tere are several responses currently postethat can assist when organizing and managing youth volunteers such as using youth volunteers as peer mentors, using youth volunteers to serve o

youth advisory boards and committees, how youth courts have addressed breaches o condentiality or instances where youth volunteers have brthe law, and what youth courts do when volunteers dont show up or jury duty. o locate these responses, click on the Resources button on thFederal Youth Court Programs website and then click on the Request or Inormation Responses link. New topics are added periodically, so thisection o the website that you may want to visit oen to see i new inormation has been posted.

Recognize and RetainVolunteering is a choice. Volunteers choose to work with programs because they want to make a contribution to their community and eel valued

hey eel their time is being wasted, they will be more likely to move on to another program or activity where they eel valued and can provide meaninwork. Te demand or good volunteers in communities is high and volunteer recruitment is a time-intensive process or program sta. Tereore, you

ourts should make every eort to recognize and retain involvement o good volunteers. Resources available to help recognize and retain volunteersnclude:

Peer Justice and Youth Empowerment: An Implementation Guide or een Court Programs, Chapter 8National Youth Court Guidelines, Chapter 8

Scholarships and Awards. Nominate or make your youth volunteers aware o scholarships and awards or which they may be available. Te FedeYouth Court Program website has inormation on various scholarships and awards aimed at youth who are engaged and involved in their commuo locate this inormation, click on the Resources button on the Federal Youth Court Programs homepage and then click on the Scholarships aAwards link.

Volunteer Hall o Honor. Te Federal Youth Court Program oers youth court directors/coordinators an opportunity to nominate a youth andadult volunteer or recognition on the Federal Youth Court Programs website during National Youth Court Month in September o each year. Lor inormation on how to nominate volunteers or the Volunteer Hall o Honor in the National Youth Court Month Action Kit and on the FedYouth Court Programs website.Sample Volunteer Satisaction Survey Form (available in Word and PDF ormats). o access, click on the Resources button on the le side o tFederal Youth Court Programs homepage, and then click on the Sample Youth Court Forms link.Request or Inormation Responses. Tere is a section on the Federal Youth Court Programs website that contains compilations o responses th

youth court coordinators have provided on various questions/issues o concern related to operating a youth court. Tere are several responsescurrently posted that can assist when recognizing and retaining volunteers including inormation on strategies that programs have used to increa

volunteer commitment, how youth courts have established scholarships within their programs to award to outstanding volunteers, and programshave established agreements with schools to allow youth to receive school credit or community service credit or service in youth court programslocate these responses, click on the Resources button on the Federal Youth Court Programs website and then click on the Request or InormaResponses link. New topics are added periodically, so this is a section o the website that you may want to visit oen to see i new inormation hbeen posted.


12/44

Develop a listing o broadcast, print, and web-based media oryour jurisdiction. You can nd general and specialized mediaaccording to region and state at http://dir.yahoo.com/News_and_

Media/By_Region/. In addition, you could design a database or allyour press lists. Press lists can be categorized by all media, talk shows,television shows, print and wire service and radio stations.

Send out a Press Release. Press releases tell your story andshould be released prior to the event i you want to provideinormation, announce an achievement, or invite the communityto attend a special event. Tey take time and eort, but getting

your message across clearly to the press can lead to excellentcoverage o your event. It is vital to make telephone or emailcontact with the person who typically writes or the communitysection. By communicating with this person on a regular basis

you will increase exposure and community awareness about

your program through newspaper and other print publications.Make sure to check local deadlines or submitting press releases.It is a good idea when sending press releases electronically thatthe sender avoid attachments because some organizations haverewalls that will block emails with attachments because o

potential viruses. Make sure to check with your local mediasource.Submit a Media Advisory. A media advisory simply inormsthe media o the acts o an eventwho, what, when, where,and whythat is about to happen. A media advisory should besent one to two weeks prior to your event (our to six weeks inadvance, i you are submitting your inormation or a printedcalendar o events), and they should be ollowed by targeted

telephone calls to the appropriate reporters. Te media advisoryshould be no longer than one page in length and should havecontact inormation prominently displayed at the top right edgeo the paper. A sample media advisory ormat can be ound on

page 13.Write a letter to the editor. A letter to the editor appeals to thepublic to support your eorts; it inorms the community aboutthe local activities o your youth court and the events you have

planned to celebrate National Youth Court Month. Letters to theeditor can be written by youth court volunteers, key supporters,

TIPS FORINVOLVINGTHE MEDIAWhether you use newspapers, television, radio, websites,or bulletin boards, informing the public about yourouth court program is vital to obtaining and retainingommunity support. National Youth Court Month

provides an excellent opportunity to use the media inelling the story of your youth court program. Some tipsor involving the media include:

or reerring agencies. Be sure to send the letter to the editor tdays to two weeks prior to your activity. Call your local papeinquire about guidelines on length, deadlines, whether an ad

and signature are needed, and whether the letter will be editeRemember, due to space issues, editors will likely choose a ewshort letters over one long one.Write an opinion-editorial, commonly known as an op-eAn op-ed is a more detailed way o expressing your opinion.It is a brie statement that combines the timeliness o a newsstory with a personal voice. An op-ed should be readable anengaging and written by an opinion leader or person withauthority in the community to lend credibility. Opinion leacan include a juvenile judge, school principal, chie o police,sheri, chie juvenile probation ofcer, and other key commustakeholders. Tese statements can inuence public opinion

are opportunities or the media to show their support o youyouth court program and National Youth Court Month. Youshould send the op-ed to local newspapers seven to ten days pto the event.Prepare public service announcements (PSAs) to notiy yocommunity about National Youth Court Month and the beno your local program to the community. Be sure to contact ltelevision and radio stations at least six weeks prior to NationYouth Court Month and ask i they accept PSAs. Ask aboutguidelines and their preerred ormat. While some stations siaccept PSA scripts that are read by on-air personalities, othask that a representative rom the organization that submits tPSA read the script. Be sure to ollow any guidelines that rad

and television stations provide.Submit pre-written articles to community newspapers. Cothe editors or reporters at community papers at least six weeksbeore you want an article to appear to nd out i they accept p

written articles. I possible, include photographs.Secure television and radio coverage. Approach broadcast m

just as you would print media. Listen to the shows and becomamiliar with their ormats. Ten, send a news release to theappropriate person at the radio or television station at least ou

weeks in advance.

Download a sample press release and various other media resources rom the at www.youthcourt.net. In addition, scanned copies o media resouan be ound in the Resource o the Month pages.

2


13/44

SAMPLE FORM


14/44

SAMPLE FORM


15/44

SAMPLE FORM


16/446

SAMPLE FORM


17/44


18/44

POlICY BrIeFSTe American Probation and Parole Association/Council o State Governments (which administered the

ormer National Youth Court Center, now known as the Federal Youth Court Program) published two Policy Briesdesigned to provide youth courts with a succinct tool they can use to educate their policymakers about the benets and

characteristics o youth court programs

Youth Court: A Path to Civic Engagemen

By: Sarah S. Pearson (Published in September 2003, 8 pages)

Tis Policy Brie provides local, state, and ederal policymakers with backgroundinormation on youth courts, as well as highlights current local and state policy in support oyouth court. It also describes how youth court helps young people learn the value o actively

participating as citizens to help make a dierence in their communities

Policymakers Support Youth Court GrowthVoices and Recommendations from the Field

By Sarah S. Pearson (Published in 2004, 10 pages)

Tis Policy Brie provides an overview o perspectives on youth court rom local, state, and

national policymakers. Policymakers interviewed or this brie oered thoughtul advice to theirpeers considering legislation or other types o support or youth court programs. Inormation

on the benets o youth courts and tips or establishing youth courts also are included

Youth courts are among the fastest growing and most effective juvenile justice programs

in America. The National Youth Court Center Policy Briefs provide an invaluable resource to

policymakers at all levels of government who are engaged in the business of serving our young

people and making our communities safer and stronger. I encourage you to utilize them.

Michael J. Elmendor, IIDirector o Intergovernmental Aairs or the State o New York

and Special Assistant to Governor George E. Patak

8


19/44

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

2 3 5 6

9 10 11 12 13 1

16 1 18 19 20 21

23 2 25 26 2 28

31

W W W . Y O U T H C O U R T . N E

SEPTEMBER2 0 0 7

Labor Day

Patriot Day Rosh Hashana Begins Yom Kippur Begin

AutumnBegins


20/44

The rOle OF reSTOrATIve JUSTICe

TeeN COUrTS: A PrelImINArY lOOBy: racy M. Godwin (Published in 2001; 8 p

In March 2000, the American Probation and Parole Association convened a ocus group to exaand discuss the role o restorative justice in teen court programs (also called youth, peer, and stu

courts). Te panel consisted o persons working actively in teen courts and persons working actively intraditional restorative justice based programs. Tis paper provides a brie overview o restorative jprinciples and addresses several key issues the ocus group members identied that serve as a promoundation rom which teen courts can begin to move toward integrating more restorative justice-

practices within their prog

ky issus iscuss incu ow yout couts can:Rethink the role o victims and the community within their programs;Alter the way that their proceedings and practices are structured; andRedene sentencing options so that they are based on the restorative justice philosophy.

Applicable to both new teen courts and those already in operation, The

of Restorative Justice in Teen Courts: A Preliminary Look is an insightful guid

administrators contemplating how to progress towards a more restorative justice mo

This publication distills the philosophical underpinnings of restorative justice and o

practical suggestions on how to implement the principles in the day-to-day experienc

teen courts. It is also likely to inspire unique solutions and save you weeks of brainstorm

Amy Zimmerman, Former Childrens Policy Adisor, IL Attorney Generals

ORDER TODAY!Youth Court Volunteer Training Packagey: Margaret E. Fisher (Published in 2001 by the American Bar Association, Diision or Public Education)

Based on theNational Youth Court Guidelines, these instructional resources or youth court sta oer high-quality materials or training youth colunteers. Tey provide trainers with the opportunity to model the qualities inherent to eective youth courts and to examine some o the universal

moral principles and common codes o behavior that underlie legal systems - honesty, respect, responsibility, and compassion.Te complete training package includes:Guide or rainers with lessons or all youth court models on topics such as the American justice system, balanced and restorative justice, condua hearing and deliberating on a disposition.Youth Volunteer Handbooks or adult judge, youth judge, youth tribunal, and peer jury program models.Changing Lives: Americas Youth Court, a short video introducing the concept o youth courts.CD-ROM to tailor materials to local needs.

Te Youth Volunteer raining Package materials may be purchased as a packaged set or individual items can be ordered. Speciy Product Code Ner (PC#) when ordering. Discounted rates available or bulk orders on volunteer handbooks.

Full set training package PC# 4970104P ................................................... ..................... $45.00Guide or rainers PC# 4970105 ........................................................ ................................ $ 6.00Adult Judge Volunteer Handbook PC# 4970108 ........................................................... $ 3.50Youth Judge Volunteer Handbook PC# 4970111 ........................................................... $ 3.50Peer Jury Volunteer Handbook PC# 4970109 .................................................... .............$ 3.50Changing Lives: Americas Youth Court Video PC# 4970106 .................................. $25.00

To order, contact:American Bar AssociationService Center(800) 285-2221

0


21/44

1 2 3 5

8 9 10 11 12

1 15 16 1 18 19

21 22 23 2 25 26

28 29 30 31

W W W . Y O U T H C O U R T . N E T

Columbus Day

National Boss Day

Halloween


OCTOBER2 0 0 7


22/44

Te NAYC News: Monthly

E-Update is a ree monthlyelectronic newsletter that contatimely announcements aboutupcoming raining events, undiopportunities, scholarship andaward opportunities, state andlocal youth court news highligand other pertinent inormatiospecic to youth courts andrelated elds. Te NAYC NewMonthly E-Update oers an way to access timely and relev

inormation about youth couIt also demonstrates that thebenets and power o youthcourt extend ar beyond theboundaries o an individualor county. Subscribers are ato see that their program iso a much larger network oyouth, teen, peer or studencourts throughout the cou

View past issues o th

NAYC News: Monthly

E-Update online at wwwyouthcourt.net/NYCC_Update/overview.htm. subscribe to the NAYCNews: Monthly E-Updago to www.youthcourt.net and sign up or [email protected].

NAYC NEWS: MONTHLY E-UPDA

2


23/44

NOVEMBER2 0 0 7

1 2

5 6 8 9

11 12 13 1 15 16

18 19 20 21 22 23

25 26 2 28 29 30


All Saints Day (M)

Veterans Day

Thanksgiving



24/44

The ImPACT OF TeeN COUr

ON YOUNG OFFENDERBy: Jerey A. Butts, Janeen Buck, and Mark B. Cogges

(Published by the Urban Institute in April 2002; 48 pa

Te Impact o een Court on Young Oenders is the nal report o ndings rom the Evaluation o een CoProject (EC), which was conducted by the Urban Institute and unded by the Ofce o Juvenile Justice

Delinquency Prevention, Ofce o Justice Programs, U.S. Department o Justice. Te EC Project studied tcourt programs in our jurisdictions: Anchorage Youth Court in Anchorage, Alaska ; teen courts operated by

Arizona Superior Court in Maricopa County, Arizona; Montgomery County een Court in Rockville, Marylaand Independence Youth Court in Independence, Missouri. More than 500 teen court cases rom the our sites wcompared with similar cases handled by the traditional juvenile justice systems in those jurisdictions. Te evalua

collected baseline data about the youth court participants and their parents or guardians, tracked the youth or at lsix months while measuring the extent to which ofcial recidivism diered between the teen court youth and th

processed within the juvenile justice syst

One of the most important responsibilities I have as Lansing Teen Court Director is

raise operating funds. Convincing funding sources that we can have an impact on

underlying causes of juvenile delinquency and reduce it by educating our youth about

terrible consequences of making poor choices when it comes to violating our laws invol

demonstrating that our program actually works. When the Urban Institute published th

ndings, The Impact Of Teen Court On Young Offenders, it was one more tool to sh

funders and community stakeholders that we do make a difference. I got my hands

as many hard copies of the report and shared it with our funders, judicial ofcials, may

police departments, school ofcials and other important community stakeholders

possible. This study clearly demonstrates that the concept of making our teens part of

solution through teen court programs, instead of always looking at them as the problem

worth the investmen

Mike Botke, DireLansing een Court, Lansing,

Content of ReportIntouction

Teen Courts in the United StatesThe Teen Court Process

What Makes Teen Court Effective?

Design of the ETC Project

The Teen Court Programs

Outcome Comparisons

Data Collection

ResultsIntptation of rsuts

Conclusion

References

Appendices


25/44

2 3 5 6

9 10 11 12 13 1

16 1 18 19 20 21

23 2 25 26 2 28

30 31


Pearl Harbor DayHannukah Begins

Winter Begin

Christmas Eve

Boxing Day (C)Kwanzaa Begins

(Eid) al Adha


DECEMBER2 0 0 7

New Years Eve

Christmas Day


26/44

Table of ContentsChapter 1: The Need for National Youth Court Guidelines

Chapter 2: Program Planning and Community Mobilization

Capt 3: Poga Stafng an Funing

Capt 4: lga Issus

Capt 5: Inti rsponnt Popuation an rfa Pocss

Capt 6: Poga Sics an Sntncing Options

Chapter : Volunteer Recruitment and Management

Capt 8: vount Taining

Capt 9: Yout Cout Opations an Cas managnt

Chapter 10: Program Evaluation

Accountability, effectiveness and integrity are qualities for which all youth courts strive.

This quote from the National Youth Court Guidelines publication is what we strive for here in

Wisconsin like each and everyone else across the United States. As a teen court coordinato

and state association leader I have used and referenced the National Youth Cour

Guidelines countless times to help answer questions and provide guidance for those new to

the youth court movement, in addition to those who need to enhance their existing policies

and programs. I believe this document is a vital, handy, easy to use tool that provides a

point of reference for all youth court coordinators to be sure they are running an effective

local program.

-Nancy Anne Livingston, Teen Court Coordinato

vias County Tn Cout, eag ri, W

NATIONAl YOUTh COUrT GUIdelINeSBy: racy M. Godwin, Michelle E. Heward, and om Spina, Jr. (Published in 2000;146 pages)

National Youth Court Guidelines are designed to give youth courts direction or developing and operating eectiveprograms or the ultimate purpose o increasing program accountability and integrity o the youth court eld. Each

chapter begins with a brie overview o the guidelines that are recommended or that particular program area. Aerwardseach guideline is discussed in more detail. A rationale or each guideline, as well as tips or implementing each guideline i

included. At the conclusion o each chapter there is a section that identies some outcomes youth court programs mightreasonably expect i they adhere to the recommendations made

6


27/44

1 2 3

6 8 9 10 11

13 1 15 16 1 18

20 21 22 23 2 25

2 28 29 30 31


New Years Day

Martin LutherKing Day


JANUARY2 0 0 8


28/44

Street Law for Youth Courts is an effective, efcient and relevant teaching tool fo

respondents and youth court volunteers. The lessons are designed so that anyone can pick

up the manual and teach a successful lesson with positive results. From icebreaker activities

to preparing to teach the lesson, step-by-step instructions are given in simple laymans

terms. Activities are designed to insure learner participation and to measure the learners

understanding of the lesson. I love the fact that denitions for new terms are included as

part of the lesson. This insures that the teacher as well as the learner will have a working

denition for new terms. The lessons are teacher and learner friendly. As attendance

supervisor, I have used the Who Must Attend School and The Juvenile Justice System

lessons with truant students. Street Law for Youth Courts should be the basic textbook for

educational classes for respondents and part of training for youth court volunteers

Lessie F. Penn, DirectoDorchester School District wo Youth Court, Summerille, SC

and Chairperson, South Carolina Youth Court Association

STREET LAW FOR YOUTH COURTS:

edUCATIONAl WOrkShOPSBy: Lena Morreale Scott (Published 2001; Reised 2002; Reised 2006)

Street Law or Youth Courts: Educational Workshops is designed as an inormation resource or youth courts whenestablishing their educational workshops/programs. Te lessons are designed to initiate a law-related education programas a sentencing option or youth court oenders. However, the lessons also may be used to train youth volunteers. Tese

interactive lessons ocus on the most requent oenses or which youth are reerred to youth court such as the; possessiono alcohol; vandalism; bullying; assault and sexual harassment. Te manual include instructor guides, lesson plans, and

handouts or youth participants

Lessons FeaturedCrime and Consequences

Victims of Crime

Serving on a Jury

A Jury of Your Peers: What is the Role of Diversityin Juries?

Vandalism

Who Must Attend School?

Alcohol, Violence, and Drunk Driving: What Risks

are You Willing to Take?

Bullying, Assault and Sexual Harassment

Shoplifting

rsoing Conict toug

Negotiation

An Overview of the Juvenile Justice

System

Options fo Soing Conicts

Triggers: Skills for Anger Manageme

Wat is t Intnt of t law

Laws are Based on Values

Reducing Underage Drinking

What do We Think Works?

8


29/44

1

3 5 6 8

10 11 12 13 1 15

1 18 19 20 21 22

2 25 26 2 28 29

W W W . Y O U T H C O U R T . N E TW W W . Y O U T H C O U R T . N E T


FEBRUARY2 0 0 8

Presidents Day


30/44

GIvING BACk: INTrOdUCING COmmUNIT

ServICe leArNINGIpoing manat Counity Sic fo Juni Offn

By Charles Degelman, Keri Doggett, and Gregorio Medina (Published in 2002; Reised 2006; 104 pa

Developed by the Constitutional Rights Foundation in Los Angeles and Chicago through a grant rom the OJJthis updated and revised manual gives youth courts and other juvenile-justice agencies the tools they need to apply scho

based service-learning methods to court-mandated community service. Giing Back provides skill-building strateand materials to introduce juvenile oenders to basic concepts o community and community problems and oers th

options or planning and implementing community service-learning projects specically designed to deal with ten oenthat youth courts and other juvenile-justice agencies most requently addr

Statgis fo Ipnting Counity Sic-laningBuilding Your Own

Tis project option or planning and implementing community service-learningprojects oers three dierent project ormats:

Action Projects: Participants and supervisors plan and implement a project designedto deal with an oense-related or other community problem they think is important

Volunteering Projects: Participants volunteer to work at appropriate communityservice-agencies, report back on the agencys eectiveness, and reect on their

volunteer experience.each Ins: Participants present an interactive lesson to teach younger children abouttopics related to specic oenses.

Done in a Day ProjectsTese are pre-planned community service-learning projects. In this manual, 20

short-term projects are organized around ten common juvenile oenses and are designedto require minimal supervision and resources. Done in a Day projects can be assigned toindividuals to complete as mandated ser vice and can involve other participants who areinterested in addressing selected issues. Each can be completed by an individual, pairs, orsmall groups working together.

Incorporating community service in our daily lives provides us with a sense of well be

and an opportunity for personal growth for people of all ages. The Giving Back Manua

an excellent resource with so many suggested projects that helps us achieve just that.

using the Giving Back Manual, many of our youth are able to foster an attachment to t

community through the Done in a Day constructive projects. One of our favorite proje

is the Adopt a Cemetery which can be found under the vandalism section. Through the

meaningful service opportunities, our youth improve the quality of life for so man

Violet Colydas, Dire

Colonie Youth Court, Latham,

0


31/44

2 3 5 6

9 10 11 12 13 1

16 1 18 19 20 21

23 2 25 26 2 28

30 31

W W W . Y O U T H C O U R T . N E TW W W . Y O U T H C O U R T . N E TW W W . Y O U T H C O U R T . N E T


MARCH2 0 0 8


32/44

ABA TeChNICAl ASSISTANCe BUlleTINSTe American Bar Association (ABA), Division or Public Education publishes echnical Assistance Bulletin

(ABs) that provide concise inormation on specic topics o interest to law-related educators, school administratorsteachers, law enorcement, and delinquency prevention proessionals

Since 2000, the ABA has developed and published three ABs on youth court issues

Youth Court: A National Movement (TA Butin #17By: Paula Nesse

Published in 2000, this bulletin provides readers with an overview o youth courts, explaintheir connection and positive contribution to law-related education, proles the support o the lega

proession, and provides resources or the creation and enhancement o youth courts

Making Youth Court as Effective as Possible (TA Butin #25By: Deborah Williamson and James Well

Published in 2004, this bulletin is designed to share lessons learned in Kentucky over the lastwelve years about youth courts and what makes them work

Youth Court Training for Results (TA Butin #26By: Dale Greenawald

Published in 2004, this technical assistance bulletin provides youth court coordinators andadministrators with introductory inormation on identiying the type o volunteer training program

needed, developing instructional goals or a training program or youth volunteers, designing ayouth court volunteer training agenda based on learning objectives, making the best possible use

o community resource people in delivering training to the young people, and evaluating a trainingprogram

To download ABA Technical Assistance Bulletins on a variety of law-related

education topics, go to www.abanet.org/publiced/tabs.html.

Need New Cover

2


33/44

1 2 3

6 8 9 10 11

13 1 15 16 1 18

20 21 22 23 2 25

2 28 29 30


APRIL2 0 0 8



34/44

YOUTH CASES FOR YOUTH COURTS:A Guide to the Typical Offenses Handled by Youth Courts

By Margaret E. Fisher (Published in 2006)Tis book is an invaluable guide or both new and existing youth courts that are trying to

determine the types o cases their program should accept or that want to expand their reerral baseIt begins by discussing how to create and maintain a reerral committee and what overall actor

youth courts should consider in making decisions about what cases to accept and reject. Readeralso will nd plenty o advice and practical tips rom leaders o some o the most successul and

longstanding youth courts across the country. Te second section o the Guidebook include

outlines o 27 oenses commonly accepted by youth courts, and includes inormation about speciaissues youth courts might ace with respect to each oense, and tips or creative dispositions

Offnss Outin in Sction II

Te/larcenyVandalismAlcohol oensesDisorderly conductAssault (or battery)

Possession o marijuanaCurew violationsobacco oensesSchool disciplinary casesrafc violationsruancyrespassingCriminal mischie/criminal nuisancePossession o drug paraphernalia

Drug oenses other than marijuana oralcoholHarassmentFraudBurglary

False reportingLoiteringPossession o stolen propertyPossession o a weaponReckless endangermentRegulatory violationsResisting an ofcer without violenceRunawaysUnauthorized use o a motor vehicle

This guidebook will be a valuable resource for youth courts being created,

expanding or perhaps just reviewing their existing program. It thoroughly discusses

the referral process, types of offenses, dispositions and raises some thought provoking

questions when considering if an offense is appropriate for your particular court. It

contains a lot of valuable information and ideas - coordinators most likely will keep it

nearby and refer to it often.

Judy Wole, SuperisorSyracuse City School District Student Court, Syracuse, NY


35/44

1 2

5 6 8 9

11 12 13 1 15 16

18 19 20 21 22 23

25 26 2 28 29 30


MAY2 0 0 8


Mothers Day Armed Forces Day

Memorial Day


36/44

YOUTh COUrT: A COmmUNITY SOlUTION FOr

emBrACING AT-rISk YOUTh

A NATIONAl UPdATeBy Sarah S. Pearson and Sonia Jurich (Published in 2005; 32 pages)

Youth court is a rapidly expanding alternative to the juvenile justice system or young people who have committed

non-violent oenses, growing rom 78 programs in 1994 to 1,035 in March 2005. Te American Youth Policy Forumwith support rom the Ofce o Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and the National Youth Court Centerconducted a nationwide review o youth court programs between November 2004 and January 2005. A total o 365

youth court coordinators rom across the United States participated in the study. Tis report reects the study ndingand is a great resource or providing policymakers and the public with an overview o youth court programs includingtheir characteristics and benets. Some o the national data eatured includes youth served, who benets rom youth

courts existence, recidivism, and average operating costs

Poga Bnts/Ipact

Reducing the Backlog in the

Juvenile Justice System

Providing Youth with Educational

and Civic Opportunities

Helping Communities

Program Sustainability

Conclusion and Recommendations

Recommendations

A Path to Civic Engagement

References

Appendix A: Study Methodology

Contents of ReportExecutive Summary

Introduction

OverviewWhat are Youth Courts?

Where are Youth Courts Located?

Whom do they Serve?

Youth Offenders

Youth Volunteers

How do Youth Courts Operate

Looking at Results

Program Completion

Estimating Costs

Publicationsspecically Youth Court: A Community Solution for Embracing At-Risk

Youth are vital to operating a teen court that is dependent on public grants and private

foundation grants. In order to validate teen courts, the administrator often is required to

provide statistics that show the programs effectiveness. Success stories are always special;

however, we operate in a bottom line society. Local results are good, state results are also

benecial, but when trying to express effectiveness to legislators and funding agencies you

need national numbers. That is why reports such as this are so essential. I have provided a

copy of the Youth Court: A Community Solution for Embracing At-Risk Youth publication to

my City Council, County Commissioners, State Representative, State Senator, and my U.S.

Representative for the sole purpose of cementing the idea of youth courts and our level of

effectiveness as a juvenile diversionary program.

Myra Weeks, CoordinatorWichita County een Court, Wichita Falls, X

6


37/44

1 2 3 5 6

8 9 10 11 12 13

15 16 1 18 19 20

22 23 2 25 26 2

29 30



JUNE2 0 0 8

Fathers Day

Flag Day

Summer Begins


38/44

Peer JUSTICe ANd YOUTh

emPOWermeNT: AN ImPlemeNTATION

GUIde FOr TeeN COUrT PrOGrAmSBy: racy M. Godwin, Daid J. Steinhart, and Betsy Fulton (Published in 1996; reised in 1998; 17

pages, plus appendice

Te American Probation and Parole Association developedPeer Justice and Youth EmpowermenAn Implementation Guide or een Court Programs to provide program organizers with baselin

inormation on developing, implementing, and enhancing teen court programs within thejurisdictions. Rather than endorsing one particular model o teen court, this manual provides progra

organizers and potential stakeholders with a general overview o issues to consider and guides thethrough a decision making process or the implementation o a teen court program that ts local need

Sample orms and other helpul resources are also included as supplemental materia

Peer Justice and Youth Empowerment: An Implementation Guide for Teen Court Programs

crucial to the success of not only our existing programs, but especially to new programs an

those in development. We regularly refer to the guide for details on everything from how

achieve outcomes to development of forms and brochures. It is, simply, THE guide on how

move your teen court forward in your community

Greg Puckett, Direct

West Virginia Teen Court Association, www.wvteencourtassociation.o

Table of ContentsChapter 1: An Overview of the Teen Court Concept

Chapter 2: Organizing the Community

Capt 3: lga Issus fo Tn Couts

Chapter : Developing a Program Purpose, Goals, and Objectives

Capt 5: Determining a Target Population and Designing a Referral Process

Capt 6: dsigning Poga Sics

Capt 7: doping a Poga mo an Pocus an Ipntin

Effective Case Management Practices

Capt 8: rcuiting, Using an Taining vounts

Capt 9: exaining huan an Financia rsouc Issus

Chapter 10: Program Evaluation

Appendix A: Teen Court Directory

Appnix B: Sap rsoucs fo Poga dopnt an Ipntation

Appendix C: Sample Teen Court Program Brochures

Appendix D: Sample Forms

Appendix E: Sample Courtroom Protocol

Appendix F: Sample Volunteer Resources

Appendix G: Sample Program Evaluation Resources

8


39/44

1 2 3

6 8 9 10 11

13 1 15 16 1 18

20 21 22 23 2 25

2 28 29 30 31


JULY2 0 0 8


Independence Day


40/44

Addressing Truancy in Youth Court ProgramsBy: Ramona Gonzales and racy Godwin Mullins (24 pages)

In June 2003, a ocus group convened to examine the problem o truancy and identiy eectivestrategies that youth courts can utilize when accepting truancy reerrals. Tis paper is based on theocus group members discussions, as well as on research and promising practices related to truancy

reduction. Specically, this paper provides an overview o the scope o the problem o truancy, benetsor addressing truancy in youth courts, eective strategies to implement when working with truants

and possible benchmarks or youth courts to use when measuring success in truancy reduction eorts

Underage Drinking and Other Substance Abuse: Opportunities for Preventionan Intntion by Yout Couts

By: racy Godwin Mullins (14 pages)

Tis paper discusses strategies that youth courts can employ to work more eectively withyoung people reerred to the program on alcohol-related cases and to enhance the youth courts role

as a partner in a communitys comprehensive approach to combating underage drinking and othersubstance use and abuse

An Overview of School-Based Youth Court Program Design OptionsBy: Mistene Vickers (22 pages)

Te author interviewed program sta rom several communities operating school-based youthcourts in middle and high school settings. Tis paper discusses the structure o school-based program

as depicted in those interviews and provides suggestions or individuals who are interested inimplementing a school-based youth court program in their community

Building Culturally Relevant Youth Courts in Tribal CommunitiesBy: Ada Pecos Melton (26 pages)

Te purpose o this paper is to provide readers with a brie background o tribal justice systemsand to provide an overview o some o the unique issues to consider to aid in the development and

implementation o culturally relevant youth courts in American Indian and Alaska Native communities

A Comparison of Statewide Youth Court Associations and Networking GroupsBy: racy Godwin Mullins and Karen L. Dunlap (12 pages)

Te authors interviewed representatives rom state youth court associations and networkinggroups to determine their purpose, organizational structure, and activities. Advantages to and

challenges encountered by state associations and networking groups were also discussed. Te purposeo this paper is to share the lessons learned rom existing state-level youth court groups and to provide

inormation to youth courts interested in orming a state-level association or networking group

Media Access Guidelines for Youth CourtsBy: Michelle E. Heward (11 pages)

Media and/or public access to youth courts presents interesting issues or programs to considerAs a supplement to theNational Youth Court Guidelines, this paper is intended to assist youth courts

in balancing competing interests o oenders, victims, the youth court, and the public and g ive them aramework within which to make sound policy related to media access

SeleCTed TOPICS ON YOUTh COUrT:

A MONOGRAPHEditor: racy Godwin Mullins (Published in 2004, 118 pages)

Tis monograph eatures papers on the ollowing six topics

0


41/44

1

3 5 6 8

10 11 12 13 1 15

1 18 19 20 21 22

2 25 26 2 28 29

31


AUGUST2 0 0 8



42/442


43/44


44/44

Date post:	31-May-2018
Category:	Documents
Upload:	losangeles
View:	222 times
Download:	0 times

00374-NYCC2007-2008 Calendar Action Kit 6-4-07a

Documents