Mission Statement of Global Youth Justice, LLC

Promote the global expansion of quality juvenile justice programs commonly referred to as youth court, teen court, peer court, student court, youth peer jury, and youth peer panel.  This is the mission and fundamental purpose of Global Youth Justice, LLC.

Vision Statement of Global Youth Justice, LLC

Global Youth Justice, LLC strives to promote solutions which alleviate some of the world's most pressing social problems. Reducing crime and incarceration rates around the world is paramount. We are having an immediate impact by actively promoting the implementation and enhancement of peer justice programs which result in both short-term and long-term favorable outcomes.  Global Youth Justice, LLC strongly supports the empowerment of young people to become global youth justice champions and activists for positive social change. 

 Global Youth Justice believes that young people must be at the forefront in the struggle to overcome some of our most pressing social problems and global challenges.  We strive to improve the quality of life for humans through reducing crime and incarceration rates around the globe.  We achieve this through favorable outcomes that result from promoting the global expansion of quality juvenile justice programs commonly referred to as youth court, teen court, peer court, student court, youth peer jury, and youth peer panel.   

 While there exists greater linkages today between nations and peoples than our planet has likely ever known, we still see all around us an ever-increasing divide between the rich and poor.  This is especially transparent in the disproportionate representation of the poor in the juvenile justice and criminal justice system. Global Youth Justice, LLC believes that young people have the limitless potential to volunteer and work side-by-side with adults who have empowered them to bridge this divide and work toward a shared vision of human dignity, greater equity, justice, freedom and basic security. 

Establishment and Purpose

Global Youth Justice, LLC was incorporated in the State of Massachusetts in the United States of America in March of 2009 by Scott Bernard Peterson.  Mr. Peterson serves as the President and Founder of Global Youth Justice, LLC.  For almost two (2) decades Mr. Peterson has championed the Global Youth Justice Movement on a local, state, national, and international level.  Mr. Peterson is regarded as the leading authority in America and around the world on these juvenile justice programs commonly referred to as youth court, teen court, peer court, student court, youth peer jury, and youth peer panel.  Global Youth Justice, LLC is the latest initiative of Mr. Peterson to advance the Global Youth Justice Movement. Global Youth Justice, LLC differs from all previous initiatives to support the Global Youth Justice Movement.  Global Youth Justice, LLC was primarily established for purposes of educating, advocating, and lobbying for the quality expansion of juvenile justice programs commonly referred to as youth courts, also referred to as teen courts, peer courts, student courts, youth peer juries, and youth peer panels. 

Unlike restrictions placed on the federal government and most not-for-profits, Global Youth Justice, LLC is allowed to engage in activities such as lobbying Presidents, Prime Ministers, Heads of State, Congress, Governors, Mayors, United Nations officials, State and County Legislatures, and other elected and appointed public officials.  Global Youth Justice, LLC will engage in providing international leadership, facilitate global coordination, build collaborations, disseminate information, recognize excellence, launch and support public and private campaigns, undertake public relations activities, generate new resources, convene events, provide training and technical assistance on a local, state, national, and global level, and undertake a wide range of other activities as deemed appropriate and necessary to achieve the mission and vision of Global Youth Justice, LLC.

Global Youth Justice, LLC is a limited liability corporation solely owned by Mr. Scott B. Peterson.

What is a Youth Court, also referred to as Teen Court, Peer Court, Student Court, and Youth Peer Panel?

A rapidly expanding juvenile justice program in which youth are sentenced by their peers for minor crimes, offenses, and/or violations.  These programs are administered and operated most often on a local level by law enforcement agencies, probation departments, juvenile courts, schools, and/or nonprofit organizations.  These programs offer communities an opportunity to provide immediate consequences for primarily first-time youthful offenders.  What’s more, youth courts provide a peer-operated sentencing mechanism that constructively allows young people to take responsibility, be held accountable, and make restitution for committing a crime; offense, or violation.  The other significant civic, service, and law-related education benefits of these programs are fueling their growth rate as local communities learn more about the education, prevention, and intervention benefits of these helpful justice juvenile justice programs.

Peer pressure—which can be a risk factor for delinquency is harnessed in these programs and can exert a powerful, positive influence over adolescent behavior. Not all youth involved with these programs are there because of anti-social, delinquent and/or criminal behavior.  In addition to providing constructive consequences for juvenile offenders, these programs also offer civic and volunteer opportunities for other youth in the community.  Youth volunteers actively participate in the community decision making process for dealing with juvenile delinquency as they gain hands-on knowledge of the juvenile and criminal justice system and the rule of law. 

The volunteer service opportunities offered by these programs for both youth and adults are both practical and meaningful. Their growing appeal as a viable service vehicle for addressing the social problem of juvenile crime has resulted in these programs emerging as one of the most well respected and leading volunteer service programs in the United States.  These programs and their rapid expansion in America are a text book example of a “grass-roots community-based program”.  The continued growth and maintenance of these programs has been largely driven by the adult community leaders on a local and state level who have championed these programs as a result of the benefits provided to the community and more specifically the youth involved regardless of their involuntary or voluntary participation. Adults involved in these programs for many years often speak to the considerable benefits these programs provide to the community, as the primary reason behind their long affiliation.

In 1993, there were approximately 78 of these programs in about a dozen states.  It is estimated that approximately 8,650 juveniles were sentenced in these local programs back in 1993.  In 2009, there are now approximately 1,205 of these programs in 48 states and Washington, DC and about one hundred more in various stages of development.  It is estimated that a staggering 111,868 juvenile were sentenced in these 1,205 local programs based on research and data compiled by George Washington University.  This represents an increase of approximately 1,300% in the number of juveniles who now proceed in these local programs during a one year period.

It is estimated that approximately 8,225 youth volunteered as jurors, attorneys, and other roles in these local programs back in 1993.  In 2009, it is estimated that a staggering 117,310 youth volunteered as jurors, attorneys, and other roles in these 1,205 local programs based on research and data compiled by George Washington University.  This represents an increase of approximately 1,400% in the number of youth who now volunteer in these local programs during a one year period.  It is important to note that many of these youth volunteers are former juvenile offenders, who were sentenced in these programs, and even some juvenile offenders who are serving as jurors as part of their peer imposed mandated community service sentence – often at or near the end of their peer imposed sentence.

There are now more than a half dozen of these programs in the United Kingdom, as a result of the first program beginning in England in 2007.  Japan and South Korea both have documented programs that have now been established.  Germany, Russia, France, and Canada are in various stages of developing a program.  Australia is poised to establish their first program in 2010.  The Global Youth Justice Movement was made in America and Global Youth Justice, LLC is championing the proliferation of this remarkable juvenile justice program that is having a favorable impact on the lives of an ever increasing number of humans of all ages. These programs are among the fastest growing and most replicated juvenile justice programs in the United States.  By 2020, it is likely these programs will be even more prevalent around the world in one form or another – with the philosophy of these programs remaining generally the same.

The Peer Justice Philosophy

(Below is the peer justice philosophy most commonly accepted in local youth court, teen court, peer court, student court, youth peer jury, and youth peer panel programs.)

“If negative peer pressure is a primary factor in leading some young people to commit a crime or an offense, then positive peer pressure can be harnessed and redirected to become a positive force and lead other young people to adhere to the rule of law and become more productive citizens.   These peer justice and youth empowerment programs harness positive peer pressure and utilize it in a peer judgment setting to adjust the anti-social, delinquent, and criminal behavior of young people.  The peer judgment and positive peer pressure aspects of teen courts and youth courts are the two primary programmatic elements what separate these juvenile justice programs from all the others”.  Scott Bernard Peterson (1993 and 2009)        

Quick Facts about the Global Youth Justice Movement

The most recent statistical data as of 2009 reveals record breaking facts about the Global Youth Justice Movement.  This data is a snapshot of what is currently taking place during a one year period.  Quick Facts are documented courtesy of George Washington University in Washington, DC.  This data is based on one full year and is less than three (3) years old.  This data is regarded by most professionals involved in the Global Youth Justice Movement as reliable and factual.

Quick Facts on Youthful Offenders and Youth and Adult Volunteers involved in these programs around the globe in a one (1) year period.

Youthful Offenders

129,540 youthful offender referrals are made each year to these programs.

116,114 of the 129,540 youthful offender referrals made to these programs are accepted each year.

111,868 of the accepted 116,114 youthful offender referrals proceed each year in these programs.

97,578 of the 111,868 referrals that proceeded in these programs completed their peer imposed sentence.

1,925,596 hours of mandated community service were completed by the 97,578 youthful offenders who completed their peer imposes sentences.

96.6% of the 89.6% juvenile offenders referred proceeded in the program.

86.3% of the juvenile offenders that proceeded in the program completed their peer imposed sentence (This is a very respectable completion rate).

Volunteers:  Both Youth and Adult

117,310 youth volunteered during a one year period for these programs..

16,522 adults volunteered during a one year period for these programs.

133,832 youth and adults volunteered in these programs.

Facts

As the number of these programs increases, it is reasonable to assume these numbers will further increase.  As the Global economy struggles, some juvenile justice programs are experiencing reductions in services and even closure.   As a result of strong volunteer support, Youth Court programs are among the least expensive juvenile justice programs in existence.  The annual rate of increase in the number of local youth courts has slowed only slightly over the past few years.  These programs are now the most replicated juvenile justice program across America.  Support remains strong for these programs and it is very likely the number of youth courts will further increase in the coming decade in America and around the world.

Staff and Volunteers

Full-Time Staff

The President and Founder of Global Youth Justice, LLC is Scott Bernard  Peterson.  In this capacity, Mr. Peterson serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for all operational and administrative matters.  Mr. Peterson can be reached at Scott.Peterson@GlobalYouthJustice.org

Part-Time Staff and Consultants

Global Youth Justice, LLC currently employs four (4) part-time staff and consultants to include a Database Administrator (Alice), Webmaster (James), and a Graphic Designer (Maryam).   Additional trainers and consultants are hired by Global Youth Justice, LLC on a contractual basis for a wide range of purposes. 

Volunteers

Volunteers to include youth and adults are both involved with supporting a wide range of tasks associated with the mission of Global Youth Justice, LLC.  The numbers of youth and adults volunteering in support of the mission of Global Youth Justice, LLC will only increase further in the coming months and years.  Key areas of volunteer involvement include lobbying, advocating, and educating the public and our elected and appointed officials on a local, state, national and international level.  Global Youth Justice Ambassadors are the primary volunteers given their official designation by Global Youth Justice, LLC.  Other volunteers are welcomed.  For more information on volunteering, please email Volunteer@GlobalYouthJustice.org

Volunteer Today!

Are you interested in joining the Global Youth Justice Movement?   Do you have a particular skill or idea that will help further the Global Youth Justice Movement in your country?  Do you have an idea to further the cause of Global Youth Justice?  You, your peers, your networks, and your ideas are welcome in this first Global effort to reduce juvenile and adult crime around the globe through expanding juvenile justice programs commonly referred to as youth court, teen court, peer court, student court, youth peer juries, and youth peer panels”.  For more information please email Volunteer@GlobalYouthJustice.org