Inaugural state Youth Court Conference held

By Daily Record Staff
Posted: 3:51 pm Thu, April 8, 2010

New York State youth court advocates gathered at the New York State Bar Association’s headquarters in Albany on Thursday for the first-ever statewide New York State Youth Court Conference.

Hosted by The New York Bar Foundation and co-sponsored by the Center for Court Innovation, the Association of New York State Youth Courts and New York State Courts Access to Justice, the conference included several workshops on ways to support, advance and strengthen the state’s youth court system.

More than 80 youth courts now operate statewide. Participating teenagers are trained to serve as jurors, judges and attorneys, and hear real-life cases of their peers involving offenses such as truancy, school fighting, vandalism, marijuana possession and shoplifting.

Sanctions from the courts typically include community service, letters of apology, essays and counseling. The courts are overseen by volunteer judges, attorneys, educators and law enforcement officials.

The courts are designed to incorporate positive peer pressure to ensure young people who commit even minor offenses give back to their communities and avoid further involvement in the justice system.

“Youth courts play an important part in educating our children about the significant role that the justice system plays in our democratic society,” NYSBA President Michael E. Getnick said in a statement.

“Participation in youth courts provides young people with an opportunity to become actively engaged citizens in their communities and delivers a powerful message to youth offenders about the negative consequences of their actions.”

Attendees at Thursday’s conference participated in a series of panel discussions focusing on improving New York’s youth courts, including opportunities for promoting youth development through active participation in community service, developing and supporting youth court mentoring programs and using social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter to promote the youth court concept.

Administrators from the Town of Colonie Youth Court, the Cattaraugus County Youth Court and the Warren County Youth Court also shared their best practices.

“The stakes for juveniles today could not be higher, and youth courts are a key part of the solution for a juvenile justice system that is currently in a state of crisis,” Former New York State Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye said in a statement.

Judge Kaye also provided the conference’s keynote address.

“Youth courts provide the right message and the right messenger to educate young people about the law and about the importance of civic participation,” she said.

NYSBA President Elect Stephen Younger announced Thursday that one of his first initiatives upon his swearing in June 1 will be to assemble a Special Committee on Youth Courts, which will be led by Judge Kaye.

Committee members will be charged with tapping “the expertise of people who have both a heart for our young people and the determination to help New York’s youth courts meet their important mission,” Younger said.

Bar Foundation Board Director and Fellows Chairwoman Susan B. Lindenauer  presented three grant awards to the Center for Court Innovation during the conference. The grants will be used to develop a recommended practices manual to support the state’s network of Youth Courts.