Transcript Project PEACE - Pennsylvania Bar Association

David Keller Trevaskis, Esquire
Peer Mediation, Anti Bullying and Youth Court
Program
Sponsored by…
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Peaceful
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Endings
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Attorneys
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Children
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Educators
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Developed by attorney, mediator and former third grade teacher
David Trevaskis in 1993 under the auspices of Indiana’s bar
association and Attorney General.
Began in Pennsylvania in 1999. when then Attorney General and now
Third Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Michael Fisher brought the
program home after Columbine.
Implemented in over 120 elementary and high schools throughout
the Commonwealth.
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Over 200 schools trained.
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Teaches students to deal with conflicts involving other students.
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Neutralize minor conflicts before they escalate to
explosive confrontations that could potentially lead
to violent acts.
Introduce participants to the peer mediation
process and other conflict resolution techniques.
Provide participants with instruction about bullying
prevention approaches such as the Olweus Bullying
Prevention Program.
Provide Alternative Justice Opportunities Through
Youth Courts.
Children become active participants in promoting
positive behavior in their classrooms taking on the
role of peacemaker by:
Using the peer
mediation process
OR
Recognizing that some
disputes may involve
problems such as
bullying and should be
handled by caring and
trained adults or by
adult referrals to schoolbased youth courts
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All schools
◦ Public
◦ Private
◦ Parochial
◦ Rural
◦ Urban
◦ Diverse in student
populations
A juvenile intervention program in which
youth are sentenced by their peers in
collaboration with adults.
Also referred to as:
Teen court
Peer court
Student court
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Defense Attorney (youth advocate)
Prosecuting Attorney (community advocate)
Clerk
Bailiff
Jurors
Sometimes, a youth judge
*Volunteer roles will vary according to the
program model the youth court utilizes.
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Serves as a prevention and early intervention
program
Offers a way to hold juvenile offenders
accountable
Provides a means for educating youth on the
legal and judicial system
Provides a meaningful forum for youth to build
competencies and practice and enhance skills
Offers an avenue for youth to provide service for
and build ties to their communities
Youth empowerment
Youth Courts
in PA
Somewhere Around
30 Youth Court
Programs in
Pennsylvania
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Juvenile Diversion programs
Primary First-time low-level offenders –
1st or 2nd step in a system of graduated
sanctions
Misdemeanor, non-violent cases
Most Require youth to admit to charge
Most are Voluntary participation
Parental consent/participation mandatory
in most
More meaningful Community
Service that are project oriented
• Oral/Written Apologies to victims
• Essays on the crime, offense or
violation(s) they were referred to
youth court for
• Jury Duty in Youth Court
• Educational Workshops on laws
and consequences
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Restitution
• Alcohol/Drug Assessment – not
treatment, as those cases should not
be handled in youth court unless no
other sanction/service exists.
• Curfew
• Tutoring
• Victim Awareness Class or Panel
• Drug Testing
• Peer Mediation
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Youth volunteers serve in the roles of:
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Defense Attorneys
Prosecuting Attorneys
Clerks
Bailiffs
Jurors
Adult volunteer serves in the role of:
◦ Judge
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Youth volunteers serve in the role of:
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Judge
Prosecuting Attorneys
Defense Attorneys
Clerks
Bailiffs
Jurors
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Youth volunteers serve in the roles of:
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Judge(s)
Defense Attorneys
Prosecuting Attorneys
Clerks
Bailiffs
There is NO PEER JURY
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Youth volunteers serve as jurors and question
the defendant directly
Some programs use youth and community
advocates
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Serves as an information clearinghouse for
information on youth courts
Provides training and technical assistance
Develops and provides resources and
publications
Website: www.youthcourt.net
In 2009 the Stoneleigh Foundation funded a three
year fellowship to develop youth courts in Chester
City and nurture a statewide youth court
movement.
Stoneleigh extended the funded of Gregg Volz for
8 more months in December 2011—see
http://stoneleighfoundation.org for numerous
court resources.
PCCD funded a two-year truancy prevention youth
court initiative in York.
The Pennsylvania Bar Association passed a
resolution supporting the establishment of a
statewide youth court association in May 2011. See
http://www.pabar.org/public/committees/childavo
/basedyouthcourt.asp
David Keller Trevaskis, Esquire
Pro Bono Coordinator
Pennsylvania Bar Association
100 South Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
800-932-0311, Ext. 2236
[email protected]