Youth Aid Panels

Youth Aid Panel Program

The Youth Aid Panel Program helps neighborhoods deal personally and effectively with first time offenders.

A panel of local community volunteers meet with the youth and his/her family to discuss the offense. The panels hold the youth accountable for their actions by requiring community service, educational programs, and specific restitution.

Youth Aid Panels

How It Works

1. Referral. The police department offers the young offender the opportunity to go before the panel instead of heading to court. The referrals are summary or minor misdemeanor offenses such as curfew violations, underage drinking, or retail theft. In order to participate, the person must admit involvement in the offense and agree to meet with the panel.

2. The Panel Session. The panel meets with the family and the youth together. The session is a voluntary and confidential process that can be stopped at any time. If the offense involves a victim, the victim is invited to meet privately with the panel to discuss the offense and their input may help the panel form the resolution.

3. The Resolution Contract. The panel does not decide guilt or innocence. The panel develops a program of community service, educational activities, or other forms of paying back to the community. Restitution (if needed) is handed by the local Police Department and not the panel. Each resolution is customized to the offense and abilities of the individual. The youth contracts with the panel to complete the resolution.

4. Completion. When the resolution is completed, the panel and the youth meet again to discuss his/her experience and the panel will recommend that no criminal record be kept about the offense. If for any reason the youth fails to complete the resolution or commits another offense, the case is returned to the police department.

Benefits

1. The juvenile and his/her parents do not enter the justice system, with all of the stigmas attached.

2. The offender and the parents are not usually fined.

3. The person has a chance to directly work off his/her offense through some positive community action.

4. The juvenile and his/her parents witness the care and concern of their community.

5. Victims, parents, and police do not waste valuable time and money waiting in or outside of a courtroom, sometimes never to be called upon for their input.

6. The juvenile and parents have an opportunity to access additional resources within their community.

7. The police have another tool to deal with minor first-time offenses.

8. Community panel members are educated by the cases they hear; problems of local youth become clearer. Panels give residents a way to become more involved in their communities.

9. Hopefully, the panels will provide information and input into the decisions of their community which involve all young people, not just those in trouble.

10. Youth Aid Panels are customized to meet the needs of the community.

Successes

Youth collectively average a 90% completion rate for the contracts they enter with the panel

The effectiveness of the Youth Aid Panel can also be measured by the intangible results. Youth are held accountable for their actions, some receive career guidance, positive adult mentoring, and several have been hired by the community service sites.

Who are the Panelists?

Panels consist of four to six people. A large or active community may have as many as four active panels. Panel members are responsible for a referred case from start to completion. This includes finding community service sites and resources, assisted by the CFR Youth Aid Panel Staff and the Juvenile Court Liaisons.

All panelists live or work in the community that they serve. The panels are not a part of the Juvenile Justice System.

Panelists requirements:

• Pass screening by the local police department
• Have an interest in young people
• Do not have political aspirations
• Ideally represent diversity in age, occupation, race and gender
• Is not a police officer, an elected official, or an immediate member. (However, they may volunteer their time assisting the panel with community outreach, community service projects or other activities.)

Training:
Each community panel receives 12 hours of formal training which includes

1. An overview of the Juvenile Justice System,
2. Information about group process, conflict resolution, values clarification,
3. Skills in questioning young people, and participating in panel meetings.

Quarterly countywide group meetings and Youth Aid Panel Program staff visitations provide ongoing training and oversight to the panels.

Municipalities with Youth Aid Panels

Youth Aid Panels work! Our Youth Aid Panel Program has grown from 2 communities in 1 county in 1995 to more than 35 panels in 2 counties!

A Joint Effort

The Youth Aid Panel Program is a joint effort:

• Over 300 volunteer panelists and community service organizations
• Delaware and Chester County Juvenile Probation Departments
• Delaware and Chester County District Attorney Offices
• Delaware County Board of Judges
• District Courts
• Participating Police departments
• Center for Resolutions (the administrating organization)

Local governments, businesses, religious, and service organizations also give YAP invaluable support. All parts of the community benefit when the panels work well.

Please call us if you would like to participate in your local panel or donate resources.

Administration

Center for Resolutions administers the Youth Aid Panel Program and is responsible for recruiting, training, raising resources, public education, working with municipalities, and managing the program.

Technical assistance is provided by an Advisory Committee made up of representatives from the police departments, panelists, the Board of Judges, District Court, District Attorney's Office, Juvenile Court, and Center for Resolutions .

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