Youth Peer Court

427 Words2 Pages
According to the Beaverton Police Department (2008), the Beaverton Youth Peer Court is designed to give youths the opportunity to participate in the criminal justice system as well as to provide a cause and affect system for them to understand and accept responsibility for their actions. Beaverton Youth Peer Court is a program designed for youths who have committed crimes of a misdemeanor or violation for the first time and are judged through a court system of their own peers. The court system consists of volunteers from 12 – to – 17 – years of age and is jurors, bailiffs, attorneys and clerks. The deviant stands trial, after admission of guilt to be sentenced by their peers. In effort to make the program a success the Beaverton Police Department, adult volunteers who work in the legal field as well as teen-age volunteers who are interested in working and learning the legal system with hands on experience. With the success of the program the community benefits since less second time offenders means lower crime rate. The process starts when the Prosecuting Attorney from the Juvenile Department, or in most cases, when a police officer comes in contact with a youth believed to have committed a crime via theft (misdemeanor), or a possession of alcohol or tobacco and out past curfew (violation). Rather than the juvenile being arrested, a citation is issued and signed by the offender agreeing that he or she will meet with his or her parents and the officer of Youth Peer Court intake. Once in a meeting, the officer will discuss options of either the juvenile court with a possible criminal record or Youth Peer Court with a fresh start over if completed and no turn backs. Beaverton Police Department once stated (2008): The benefits of Peer Court for the defendants: 1. Youth Peer Court offers an alternative to Juvenile Court (and a possible record)for youths who
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