Fifteen years ago this week, Ontario County Youth Court tried a new approach to juvenile justice. The rules said that young offenders would be treated differently, if they:
1) volunteered to appear in front of a court of their peers, and
2) took responsibility for their actions.
That was just the start. Fifteen years in, the program claims a 91% success record. As in, 91% of those who go through the Youth Court never appear before a judge in any court again. We'll discuss alternative approaches to juvenile justice with our panel:
- Deb Holland, program director, the Ontario County Youth Court
- Bonnie Ross, executive director for the Partnership for Ontario County
- Megan Prusinowski, Youth Court alum; currently a student at SUNY Geneseo
- Joey Loffredo, student volunteer
- Kaley Grooms, student volunteer
