DA Rice’s Youth Court Offers Alternative Justice
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
30 March 2011
DA Rice’s Youth Court Offers Alternative Justice
Partnering with Hofstra Law School, the DA’s program gives young people opportunity to be adjudicated by peers
MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced today that her office’s Youth Court program, under the supervision of ADA Kara Kaplan, recently completed the training of a new class of student volunteers from local high schools to take part in 
the “alternative justice” program. The new student volunteers were taught the process of a criminal trial, court procedures, and the roles of attorneys, judges, witness, court officers and jurors. Prosecutors, a local defense attorney and Hofstra University law students handled the training and will help oversee the court.
The “graduates” conducted their first hearing on Monday at Hempstead Village Court. The Village of Hempstead will host all future hearings and provide bus service to students.
Youth Court provides an opportunity for young people who commit low-level, non-violent offenses to be adjudicated by their peers. Each respondent is a first-time offender whose case has been carefully screened by the referring agency and the DA’s Office. Offenses include writing graffiti, criminal mischief, and petit larceny. Currently, students from Hempstead High School and Uniondale High School staff all positions in the court including community advocate and defense advocate (similar to role of prosecutor and defense attorney), bailiff, and court clerk. During a hearing, respondents have a chance to present his or her case to the youth jury, judge, and advocates. One presiding juror and a panel of jury members question the respondent, parent and other witnesses.
After the hearing, the jury deliberates and decides on a fair and beneficial sanction for their peer using restorative justice goals. Common sanctions include community service, oral and written apologies, essays, jury duty, restitution, curfew and tutoring. In addition to the students receiving a routine sanction, attempts will be made in every case to link them to events and activities based on their individual interests - the goal is to expose the students to a new experience and potentially something that can become a regular activity and a positive way to spend their time.
Rice said the Youth Court is another in a series of programs designed to keep kids out of the court system. In the past, the District Attorney has introduced mentoring programs, education programs, and summer camps designed to give children after-school and summer activities to keep them off the streets.
“Getting to children early and teaching them about the consequences of crime is one of the most important initiatives we can undertake,” Rice said. “The Youth Court will give these kids the skill set and the confidence to act as role models for their fellow students, while giving the young offenders an early look at the consequences of breaking the law.”
Rice thanked the following agencies and organizations for their tireless efforts in the planning and implementation of the Youth Court: Hofstra Law School, Hempstead High School, Uniondale High School, Hempstead Police Department, the Nassau County Department of Probation, Nassau County Attorney’s Office – Family Court Division, Nassau County Family Court, and the Family and Children’s Association.
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