Youth court is a rapidly expanding alternative to the juvenile justice system for young people who have committed non-violent offenses, growing from 78 programs in 1994 to 1,035 in March 2005. Youth volunteers, under the supervision of adult volunteers, work as bailiffs, clerks, jury and judges, questioning the offender, debating and imposing sentences. The program's goal is to intervene in early antisocial, delinquent, and criminal behaviors to reduce incidents and prevent the escalation of such behaviors.

The American Youth Policy Forum (AYPF), with support from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) and the National Youth Court Center (NYCC), managed by the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA), conducted a nationwide review of youth court programs between November 2004 and January 2005. A total of 365 youth court coordinators from across the United States participated in the study.

This report reflects the study findings. The report's goal is to provide policymakers and the public with an overview of youth court programs, their characteristics and benefits. Note: youth courts may be called "teen court" or "peer jury" in different jurisdictions.

Findings from the AYPF study indicate that:

* An estimated 110,000 to 125,000 youth offenders are served in youth court programs each year.

* On average, nine percent of juvenile arrests in a jurisdiction are being diverted from the formal juvenile justice system to youth courts.

* Another 100,000 youth per year are benefiting from their participation in the program as volunteers.

* Returns to investment are immediate, as even in programs with only two years of operation, more than 80% of the youth offenders have completed their sentences successfully.

* In 30% of the participating programs, 1 in 5 youth offenders returns to the program as a volunteer.

* The average costs of youth court programs are estimated as $430 per youth served and $480 per youth successfully completing a sentence. These low operation costs are maintained through the programs' reliance on adult and youth volunteers.

* Youth court benefits include:
     • To the juvenile justice system-Reduced court backlogs without increasing recidivism;
     • To youth offenders-An outlet to confront the consequences of their actions and protection from contact with "hard core" offenders as well as avoidance of a juvenile court record that may jeopardize their future;
     • To youth offenders and volunteers-Opportunities to learn about responsible citizenship and law, and to develop skills in public speaking, mediation, and pro-social leadership through hands-on experience;
     • To families-A chance to re-engage in a positive dialogue with their children, and to learn with them more about the justice system;
     • To communities-Recovering losses due to juvenile crime and regaining confidence and pride in local youth.

* Reduced funding and uncertainty about continuing funding were major concerns expressed by youth court coordinators regarding program sustainability.

It is AYPF's hope that this study will provide policymakers and citizens with a better understanding of youth courts and their ole as an effective component of the country's network for delinquency prevention, early intervention, and civic engagement.

To view the report in its entirety, go to http://www.aypf.org/pdf/Youth%20Court%20-%20A%20Community%20Solution.pdf