National Youth Court Center  c/o American Probation and Parole Association     PO Box 11910          Lexington, KY 40578-1910 www.youthcourt.net

Contact: Karen Fuller Phone: 859-244-8196  Contact: Carl Wicklund Phone: 859-333-4088   IMMEDIATE RELEASE 4-12-02

 

America’s Youth Justice System - Justice For Youth and by Youth

 

National Youth Court Conference April 14-16, 2002

Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia

 

 

During a time of disturbing news of violence and intolerance from around the world, there is reason to have hope for the future of our nation’s youth and our communities. 

 

Youth courts have grown by 1200 percent! In 1994 there were 74 youth courts; today there are more than 860 with 300 more communities considering the development of a youth court.  Come see for yourself how this grassroots movement has now emerged as the leading community court with no sign of slowing down. Empowering teens to determine sentences for their peers and address crime problems in their communities are at the heart of what youth court programs are all about.

 

Sunday, April 14^th at 7:00pm, the opening session will feature “Speak Your Peace”, an improvisational teen theater group from Utah. The group will create a forum to communicate about issues important to teenagers while portraying real life situations critical to them in their personal lives as well as in their youth court responsibilities.

 

***Recommended press time for Ms. Daniels – April 15^th the morning of her keynote speech***

 

Monday, April 15^th at 8:30am, keynote speaker Deborah J. Daniels, Assistant Attorney General, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice (DC) will welcome 1,000 enthusiastic, motivated, committed, and empowered youth and adults to the largest youth court event ever convened! If teenagers get in trouble as a result of peer pressure, could positive peer pressure be harnessed in youth court to steer them away from trouble as well? To find out, attend the April 15^th keynote session where Ms. Daniels will unveil the results of the first ever national teen court evaluation funded by the U.S. Department of Justice and conducted by the Urban Institute. Pick up a free copy of the report titled, “The Impact of Teen Court on Young Offenders”. A pdf version of the report will be available on the Urban Institute’s website at www.urban.org on that same morning. The authors of the report, Jeffrey Butts, Janeen Buck, and Mark Coggeshall will be available to speak to the media from 8:30am until 11:00am. At 11:15am, they will present a workshop "Effects of Youth Court: Results of the OJJDP Evaluation" in Salon C.

 

Ms. Daniels will also announce the release of several new resources the Office of Justice Programs has funded as part of its National Youth Court Initiative.

 

With more than 65 informational and skill-building workshops for adults and youth who work in youth courts throughout the United States and opportunities to network and share ideas with their peers, this conference is sure to be a success and inspiration for the attendees as they go back to their communities to share new strategies, practices, and experiences to help strengthen their own youth courts.

 

Sponsoring agencies for the 2002 National Youth Court Conference include the American Probation and Parole Association (manager of the National Youth Court Center); the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice; and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation.  The partnering of these federal and private agencies (including the Constitutional Rights Foundation/Chicago, the American Bar Association, and Street Law Inc.) is truly a shining example of pulling together for the empowerment of America’s youth and America’s communities.

 

Throughout the conference the media will have an opportunity to interview youth and featured speakers.

 

For media inquiries prior to April 13^th, contact Karen Fuller at (859) 244-8196. Starting April 13^th   through April 16^th, media inquiries should be directed onsite to Carl Wicklund at (859) 333-4088. Media are required to check in at the conference registration booth located outside the Arlington Ballroom at the Crystal Gateway Marriott.

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