Global Youth Justice www.GlobalYouthJustice.org

1. Strategies and TipsEstablishing or Enhancing a Youth Justice programTeen Court, Youth Court, Peer Court, Student Court and Youth Peer Panels. Global Youth Justice www.GlobalYouthJustice.org

2. The R-TORR Approach • Use the R-TORR Approach for Youth and Adult Volunteer Management R-TORR = • Recruit • Train • Organize • Recognize • Retain

3. Sign up for the freeGlobal Youth Justice e-News. • Log on to the Global Youth Justice website and click on the free subscribe button at the bottom of the page and sign up for the world’s largest monthly e-News on Youth Courts, Teen Courts, Peer Courts, Student Courts and Youth Peer Panels. • Encourage your advisory board, funders, adult and youth volunteers, stakeholders, program staff, advisory/board members and others to sign up for this free e-News. • Utilize this monthly update for obtaining new ideas from other programs around the globe and grant information. • Share your local, state, national and international news and ideas. • Pass it on to your youth - with directions on how to join. • Get connected and stay connected – join today !

4. Different Youth Justice Models, Mission, and Vision Statement • Look at the different program models in your area when you are establishing or enhancing a program – some communities even use two (2) Models. • Models vary from Youth Judge, Adult Judge, Tribunal, and Peer Jury among others. • Review or create your mission and vision statement – make it a group effort. • Give your youth the opportunity to be involved. • Determine how you will gauge if your program is meeting the needs of the community based on the mission and vision statement adopted.

5. State and Local Youth Justice Legislation • State Legislation exists in several dozen states on Youth & Teen Court programs. • This legislation can and does vary from state to state. In most cases, it is not anything vital. • Existing and Establishing programs will need to learn about if your state has legislation and what it is. • Contact your local, county and/or state attorney’s Office for assistance with this. • A Legislation Technical Assistance Bulletin exists and can be obtained free by emailing TechnicalAssistance@GlobalYouthJustice.org

6. Train Youth and Adult Volunteers(Pre-Service and In-Service) • All youth volunteers need to be trained prior to assuming the various roles in your program. This included pre-service and event in-service. • Utilize the legal and law enforcement community and formal educators to train your youth volunteers and give them tips on courtroom etiquette, court proceedings, respect for defendant, questioning techniques, a script, and considerably more. • Use evaluations to enhance your training sessions and to see what the youth volunteers still need in order for them to be best prepared. • Training needs to be “skill building” , so provide them with the tools they need to be efficient and successful. Mock trials are helpful. • Adult trainers also need to be trained. • The most effective programs are those which train both the youth and adult volunteers, and even the youthful offenders who are doing jury duty – a role which also benefits from training.

7. Stakeholders in YourYouth Justice Program • Assess breadth and depth of stakeholders. • Determine if the program is meeting the needs of your program and community. • Reassess periodically, especially in light of community changes such as new mayor, new police chief, types of referrals your program is accepting and/or getting, etc.. • On-Going Adult involvement is critical and necessary.

8. Local Community Culture • Encourage and establish diversity among referring agencies. Don’t just rely on one person. • Determine if the caseload can be expanded or modified. • Check your youth and adult volunteer diversity against that of your community – you should reflect the community. • Involve youth typically out of the service and volunteer mainstream and former offenders.

9. This and That ! • Broaden resources within your community for youth offenders and youth/adult volunteers. • Develop new ways to recognize youth and adult volunteers. An Annual ceremony is often wise and practical. • Keep training on-going, this will make the youth want to be participate more – especially if there are not enough referrals or too many volunteers.Involve volunteers in decision-making where appropriate.

10. Training of Volunteers • Maximize youth involvement. • Reach out to community resources for specialized training such as attorneys, judges, substance and treatment professionals, 4-H Staff, etc. • Survey your volunteers to learn what they gained, liked and didn’t like about training. • Write into your youth court budget and grants to send new and existing employees to GYJ Trainings in Vegas.

11. Diversification & Appropriateness of Youth Justice Sentencing Options • Evaluate your sentencing options. • Allow youth volunteers to experience some of the sentencing options to help give them first-hand knowledge of what they entail. • Update sentencing options throughout the year to include new placements and projects. • Check with your local juvenile probation office, volunteer center and others to see what sentencing options are given to youth outside of the youth and teen courts. • Add educational components to your programs community service sentencing menu of options.

12. Restorative Justice • Implement concepts of restorative justice where appropriate in the Youth Justice process. • Mediation with victim can be community service. • Assure victim is adequately restored if possible. • Train your volunteers in the principles of restorative justice. • Victim impact statements. • Contact victims and offer multiple ways they can be involved.

13. Timely Case Disposition • Strive to have a timely completion/disposition. • Create a process that is followed to be sure no respondents are lost in the shuffle and end up in non-compliance, as a result of time limits. • Discuss cases on a regular basis to track status. • Set a defined time limit for sentence completion. • Hold court as much as possible – even have case re-enactments. • What do you do if the youth does not complete your program – consequences need to be serious to set a tone that youth must complete your program or it can quickly become a joke.

14. Efficient and Timely Reports • Provide reports to all related agencies and stakeholders as allowable and within legal limits (confidentiality) • Consider doing a quarterly newsletter or update. • Prepare quarterly reports to grant monitors including data collection and to board and advisory members. • Keep youth volunteers updated and their parents and guardians. • Create a committee that is focused on educating the public about the on-going activities of your program. • Continued and increased public support of your program will go a long way in keep your program offering services necessary for the local juvenile justice system and it will help your program get more funding/support.

15. Confidentiality • Provide measures to implement a confidentiality policy to of all participants to the extent possible. Make sure to recognize you can not ASSURE this. • Make all volunteers sign an oath of confidentiality. • Stress confidentiality from the moment you recruit volunteers to include youth and adult volunteers. • Have adequate protocol in place should a breach occur. • Keep files in a locked cabinet. • Some programs do not have strict confidentiality – it is a decision your local adult leaders will need to address and formally write a policy. Have parent(s) and legal guardian(s) sign a release of confidentiality form.

16. Physical Security • Consider physical security based on where the setting is for your Youth Justice program to have hearings/trials. • Work with local courts to see if a bailiff will volunteer to ensure the safety of the youth during court. • Most Youth Justice programs hold “Court Night” in their local Court House, School, Community Setting and more. • Have good communication with youth so they will alert you right away if there are problems. • Holding hearings in the local courtroom has shown to have some benefits over other settings to include security. • Make use of your local courtroom when it is not in session for traditional adult court. Use it for trainings, events, court night.

17. Background Checkson Adult Volunteers • Conduct background checks on all of your adult volunteers if at all possible. This is especially essential if an adult is going to be 1 on 1 with a youth. • Find resources such as law enforcement or the court system that help provide this background service at low or no cost. • Talk with your local Mentoring Agency and Law Enforcement Agency about this. • All Youth Justice staff should get this background check.

18. Liability Insurance • Purchase an adequate level of liability insurance, depending which organization is responsible for the administration of the Youth Justice programs. • Programs operated by a municipal government will also need to purchase insurance – and often even if self insured. • Not-for-Profits typically have insurance for the board of directors and for the liability should a youth or adult get injured on the premises and/or at a community service project. • If transportation is taking place – motor vehicle insurance is required.

19. Mandated Community Service Needs to be Meaningful to the Youthful offender and the Community • Read Giving Back – the Outstanding Guidebook on improving Community Service written by the Constitutional Rights Foundation. • Identify organizations or groups who are already working on community service projects and possibly coordinate efforts. • Determine how your community will operate the community service aspect of your program. • Will your community use an existing agency and/or will your community operate your own program. • Supervision, safety, location, the age of youth, adult background checks, and liability insurance are just some issues. • Quality Community Service Programs are among the top 3 aspects of your program and can make or break a program. • Learn about any requirements from referring agencies regarding time frames for completing community service and/or other requirements. • Adults will need to decide what to do – if the youth do not complete their peer imposed sanction. • Establish an official committee for making your Mandated Community Service meaningful and operationally and administratively sound.

20. Track Recidivism and Collect Data • Track the recidivism of your youthful offenders in your court and use an empirically logical design. • Focus on 1-3 year post adjudication. • Engage area Colleges and Universities. • Educate those who are the keepers of this information on how vital it is to keep recidivism data for the strength of the program and for financial support/sustainability. • Re-arrest, Conviction and Incarceration are the 3 standard measures of Recidivism. • Data Collection on types of offenses, ages, completion rate, male/female and other significant items are as important as tracking recidivism. You can do much of this on your own – with the right planning ahead of time.

21. Diversify Funding and Resources • Get to know funding agencies and organizations by looking at websites, attending meetings and networking. • A quality program is almost always a priority to secure on-going funding. • Establish a finance and budget committee and a Fundraising and Grant Committee. • Local support is critical – without it – most programs will not survive. You program should not rely solely on one grant – although some municipal run programs to include schools do operate like this. • A three (3) year plan is critical and necessary for budgeting purposes. • Learn how other programs are funded in your state and around the United States. • Foundations, civic and fraternal groups, municipal funding, bar associations and foundations, criminal/juvenile justice agencies, United Way, Youth Bureaus, local, county, and state budget line items, corporate supports, fundraising events, fines, individual donations, and funding from schools, police departments, local courts and probation departments are just some groups currently funding local Youth Justice programs. • Keep funders and supporters informed of your program – have an annual event and releasing an annual report are just a few ideas.

22. State Associations and Networking Groups • About 18 States now have a State Association or Networking Group. This is an increase from about 7 or 8 ten (10) years ago. • Consider engaging in activities with your state association or state networking group if it meets your needs after learning what it does. • Some states with Associations/Networking Groups include TX, FL, LA, NY, IL, WA, WI, CA, AZ, NM, and others. • Consider establishing or re-establishing a State Association or State Networking Group. Multi-State and Regional efforts are also wise. • For information on existing State Associations/Networking Groups, log on to the Global Youth Justice website and click on the button titled Locate a Program. • State Association and State Networking groups have shown to be a little helpful in mobilizing increased state and local resources, increasing professional development and staff training, creates statewide opportunities for youth and adults to convene events and helps with the expansion of new programs and the improvement of existing programs in a state. Many local Youth Justice staff are so busy, they often do not have time for state activities.

23. Technical Assistance is Availablefrom Global Youth Justice Technical Assistance is available from Global Youth Justice. Establishing or Enhancing a local Youth Justice program can be challenging to those adults and/or youth new to these expanding Juvenile Justice programs. Global Youth Justice and Youth Justice USA are here to help you the best we can. We encourage you to view the Administrative and Operational Publications on our website. Please feel free to call us anytime at all. Good Luck. Global Youth Justice (202) 468-3790 www.GlobalYouthJustice.org GlobalYouthJustice@GlobalYouthJustice.org

24. Www.GlobalYouthJustice.Org • Visit the Global Website for the most exciting, innovative, current, and useful website on youth court, teen court, peer court, student court, and youth peer panels around the world. • For more information, please contact Scott.Peterson@GlobalYouthJustice.org