National Youth Court Conference to be Held in New Mexico
October 22-24, 2000

 Empowering youth to determine just and fair sentences for their peers and to help solve community problems!  

Youth and adults will to gather in Albuquerque to learn and share ideas on practicing justice for youth by youth! Empowering youth to determine sentences for their peers and address crime problems in their communities is at the heart of what youth/teen court programs are all about. Over the past six years, there has been tremendous growth in the number of youth courts in the America, as well as unparalleled support for the development of resources for youth courts on a national level. The National Youth Court Center will be holding a nationally attended youth court conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico on October 22-24, 2000 at the Hilton Albuquerque.  

This conference, sponsored by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, and Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, is just one more shining example of how federal agencies are pulling together to present information on this exciting and promising practice of justice by our nation’s youth.   The conference will feature more than 45 informational and skill-building workshops for adults and youth who work in youth courts throughout the United States.  Featured speakers include John J. Wilson, Acting Administrator of OJJDP; U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman (NM); James Curtis of the nationally syndicated television show Curtis Court; and LaVerna Fountain, Senior Advisor for the U.S. Programs of the Save the Children Federation and President of Defiant Hope, Inc.    

We invite media to attend.  Media should check in at the conference registration table to obtain a media pass.