AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION’s
House of Delegates
UNANIMOUSLY
Passed a Resolution Supporting the Expansion
of
Youth/Teen/Student/Peer Court Diversion Programs.
RESOLVED, That the American Bar Association (ABA) urges federal, state, territorial, and local governments to create and provide appropriate support for Youth or Teen Courts that, through a nondiscriminatory peer-driven restorative justice process involving family members, diverts youth from the formal consequences of juvenile court petitions, proceedings, adjudications, or juvenile justice sanctions by:
(A) Providing civic education for all participants that builds respect for their rule of law and the legal process, including mentorship and community service opportunities;
(B) Permitting program referrals from prosecutors, probation departments and police, as well as from the courts, and not limiting program eligibility to first-time offenders;
(C) Encouraging judges, lawyers, law students, civic organizations and businesses to recruit youth volunteers and to provide training, other assistance and support to create, sustain and promote programs; and,
(D) Supporting national, state, and local research and evaluation on all aspects of these programs.
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