Youth Court Start-up Conference to Be Held May 31 at Seattle University
School of Law

Young People Delivering Justice: Volunteers Use Peer Pressure in Positive Ways

Seattle, Washington, May 5, 2003—The Council on Public Legal Education (CPLE) announced today that it will conduct a Youth Court Start-up Conference Saturday, May 31, 2003, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Seattle University School of Law. The conference will feature presentations—including a mock trial—by currently functioning youth courts from all over Washington, including Whatcom County Teen Court (11 high schools participate, including three alternative high schools: Options, Clear View and Timber Ridge), Granite Falls Youth Court (Granite Falls High School in Snohomish County), North Thurston Youth Court (River Ridge High School, Timberlake High School and N. Thurston High School), University Place Youth Court (University Place High School in Pierce County), and Shorecrest Teen Court (Shorecrest, Shorewood, King's and Shoreline Christian High Schools in King County).

There are currently 19 youth courts in Washington, and the CPLE plans to launch 20 more over the next two years. Youth courts provide a venue for youth volunteers aged 12 to 18 to help their peers who have committed nonviolent misdemeanors or engaged in other problem behaviors. Participating offenders are required to plead guilty or agree not to contest the charges against them. Participation in the program is voluntary, and parental consent is required.

"Typically, these offenders would appear before a judge, meet with a community accountability board or be called into the office of a school administrator," explains CPLE Manager Pam Inglesby. "In all of these cases, their fate is in the hands of adults. Youth courts offer an innovative alternative, as they allow young people who have acknowledged their wrongdoing to appear instead in front of a jury of their peers. Peer volunteers use peer pressure in positive ways, letting offenders know their behavior is wrong."

According to former American Bar Association president Robert E. Hirshon, youth courts benefit everyone in the community. "Young respondents learn that there are consequences for their misbehavior and that their peers are willing to take the time to ensure that those consequences are just. The youth volunteers learn about due process, restorative justice, and the benefits of volunteering to improve their community. The community benefits by giving young respondents a chance to turn their lives around while educating youth volunteers about the value of participation in our justice system."

The conference will be led by National Youth Court expert Margaret Fisher, author of "Youth Courts: Young People Delivering Justice," and creator of a national award-winning youth court curriculum. "Youth courts are a win-win situation," says Fisher. "The youth volunteers participate actively in their justice system as offenders take responsibility for their problem behaviors and repair the harm they caused."

Washington Supreme Court Justice Faith Ireland will provide introductory remarks, and facilitators will include Court Commissioners Chuck Snyder and Martha Gross from Whatcom County, and Lake Forest Park Municipal Court Judge Linda Portnoy. Sponsors include the Washington State Bar Association, Washington Judges Foundation, the Family and Juvenile Law Committee of the Superior Court Judges' Association, the Public Trust and Confidence Committee of the Board for Judicial Administration, Seattle University School of Law, and the Administrative Office of the Courts.

The conference is open to individuals and teams interested in starting a youth court in their community. Teams typically consist of three to five "stakeholders" from a specific community, including school administrators, prosecutors, judges, juvenile probation officers, law enforcement, attorneys, youth service organization staff, teachers, community leaders, and young people.

There is no fee for the conference, and a catered lunch will be provided. Deadline for registration is May 9. For more information and a registration form, contact Pam Inglesby at 206-727-8226 or cple@wsba.org.

About the CPLE
The Council on Public Legal Education was created in 2000. Its 30-plus members include lawyers, judges, educators, elected officials, journalists and community representatives. Its mission is to ensure that the people of Washington have the knowledge they need to participate effectively in the justice system and government, by creating, coordinating and encouraging many kinds of legal education programs ranging from a media resource guide to teacher-training workshops to a comprehensive law-related Web site for the general public. For more information about the CPLE, visit www.plecouncil.org.

About the WSBA
The Washington State Bar Association is a private, nonprofit organization authorized by the Washington Supreme Court to license the state's 27,300 lawyers. The WSBA both regulates lawyers under the authority of the Court and serves its members as a professional association—all without public funding. As a regulatory agency, it administers the bar exam, provides record-keeping and licensing functions, and administers the lawyer discipline program. As a professional association, the WSBA provides continuing legal education for attorneys, in addition to numerous other educational and member service activities.

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Youth Court Start-up Conference to Be Held May 31 at Seattle University School of Law

Young People Delivering Justice: Volunteers Use Peer Pressure in Positive Ways

Youth Court Start-up Conference to Be Held May 31 at Seattle University
School of Law