“I keep my ideals, because in spite of everything I still believe people are really good at heart.” –Anne FrankAnne Frank’s belief in the goodness of people is what drives our work in Washington County Youth Court. Youth Court is a program based on Restorative Justice which is an approach to responding to wrongdoing and conflict with a balanced focus on the person harmed, the person causing the harm, and the affected community. The youth who appear in our court are first time offenders who have committed low-level crimes such as trespassing, petty theft, and breaking curfew. The participant comes before a panel of their peers and is given a sentence to “restore” the balance. Our hope is to help the young person learn from their mistake while making sure the other parties involved receive compensation for the wrongs committed against them.
Community Service is a mandatory part of the disposition given at the end of the hearing. Also essays, apology letters, and specific projects may be assigned as the panel of judges see fit. If the young participant comes to their return hearing with all his or her assignments finished he or she can leave the court with a fresh start. After a year of staying out of trouble the participant’s criminal record is cleared of the charge.
The teenagers we have on our panel are amazing young people. They listen and ask questions carefully and try to build relationships of trust with which they can really help their peers. The panel has the opportunity of receiving training and experience that will benefit them throughout their lives. Washington County Youth Court is a great program for all who are involved. Spread the word about our awesome program!!
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