WHEREAS, Youth courts have been shown to be a cost-efficient
and successful diversionary program in Pennsylvania and
elsewhere for decades; and
WHEREAS, Youth courts are student-operated disciplinary
systems that use positive peer pressure to correct disruptive
behavior; and
WHEREAS, Trained youths use positive peer pressure to hold
offenders accountable and repair harm; and
WHEREAS, Youth courts can be structured within a school-based
or juvenile justice-based system; and
WHEREAS, Youth courts keep at-risk youths in school, where
the youths continue their education and are less likely to enter
the formal juvenile or criminal justice system; and
WHEREAS, Youth court programs include public speaking,
creative problem solving and literacy and promote the
citizenship and socialization of youth court respondents and
peer volunteers; and
WHEREAS, Youth courts attract new resources, including
lawyers and volunteers, from higher education and faith-based
institutions; and
WHEREAS, There are more than 1,200 youth courts in the United
States, but fewer than 10 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties have
youth courts; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's increased deployment and utilization
of youth courts and the creation of more youth courts could
result in greatly reduced corrections costs and school
disciplinary costs as in other states; and
WHEREAS, The Senate recognizes the value of youth courts as a
positive reformative juvenile justice tool; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate direct the Joint State Government
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