Youth courts are one of the fastest growing crime intervention and prevention programs in the Nation. In 1994, the United States had 78 youth courts. Today—just 8 years later�more than 900 youth courts operate in 46 States and the District of Columbia. In recognition of these unique courts and the dedicated youth and adult volunteers who participate in them, OJJDP and the National Youth Court Center (NYCC) have designated September 2002 as National Youth Court Month. Toby Steinmetz, a member of the Pottstown Area Teen Court in Stowe, PA, developed the theme for National Youth Court Month—"Youth Court: Positive Peer Pressure, Teens Helping Teens."

Also known as teen courts and peer courts, youth courts offer an adjudicatory venue in which nonviolent juvenile offenders are sentenced by peers. By involving the community and family members of offenders and victims, youth courts influence the lives of juveniles in a unique and positive way.

Recently, OJJDP's Youth Court program was the only program from the United States featured at the United Nations' Special Session on Children, and the OJJDP-funded Youth Court Training Package received a prestigious national award from the Association of Educational Publishers. These achievements are highlighted below.

United Nations Recognizes OJJDP's Youth Court Program

In May 2002, youth courts were recognized at the United Nations' Special Session on Children. Every 10 years, UN member countries meet to establish a global blueprint for the next decade. This year's landmark meeting offered an unprecedented opportunity to change how the world views and treats children. During the special session, which was modeled as a youth court hearing, J. Robert Flores, OJJDP Administrator, and two young volunteers from youth courts in New York and Maryland shared the positive effects that youth courts are having on juveniles in the United States with hundreds of participants from around the world.

"Youth courts give young people an arena to take on increased responsibility in the community while developing prosocial attitudes and an increased understanding and respect for the rule of law," Mr. Flores said. Noting the success of youth courts in other parts of the world, including Canada, Germany, and Japan, Mr. Flores challenged delegates to build youth court programs in their communities.

A transcript of Mr. Flores's remarks is available on OJJDP's Web site at ojjdp.ncjrs.org/about/floresspeeches.html. Additional information about the UN's Special Session on Children is available at www.unicef.org/specialsession.

Youth Court Training Package Receives Top Award

The Youth Court Training Package contains student training manuals for different youth court models, an instructor's guide, a promotional video, and a CD–ROM. To order a copy (cost $45), call 800–285–2221.

For Further Information

To learn more about youth courts, contact the National Youth Court Center at 859–244–8193 or visit the Center's Web site at www.youthcourt.net. At the Web site, click on the National Youth Court Month 2002 Action Kit icon for publicity and promotional materials, artwork, suggested activities, instructions for submitting nominations to NYCC's Volunteer Hall of Fame, and many other resources designed to help local youth courts involve community partners in the celebration of National Youth Court Month.

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The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, and the Office for Victims of Crime.