 Youth Court
 Pictured here, a student playing the role of the judge presides over the Saratoga County Youth Court. Saratoga County is fortunate to have a very active and county wide youth court which diverts school aged children over the age of 16 to the Saratoga County Youth Court. The court has been an enormously beneficial program as it diverts cases to a court of peers which determine a sentence for the offender, after the offender admits his or her wrongdoing. Since the offender has already admitted guilt, it is simply a matter of determining what sentence is appropriate. Sentences can range from letters of apology, community service, victim outreach in appropriate cases. Here are some frequently asked questions that pertain to youth court. For more information you may contact the Prevention Council under out "links" button on the left margin of this page.
 Pictured here, District Attorney Murphy address a group of high school students in an informal setting during Saratoga County Youth Court training. The DA addresses the role of the prosecutor and the process by which cases are transferred to Youth Court.
The Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention and the Department of Justice have a link that addresses many of the issues confronting our youth today. Click on the icons above to learn more.
What is the Saratoga Youth Court? The Saratoga County Youth Court is an alternative to the criminal justice system for young people who have committed a crime or an offense in our community. Youth Court works to correct antisocial and criminal behavior and to prevent such behavior from getting worse. The Youth Court's goal is to help participants gain a greater sense of justice and respect for themselves, their neighbors and the law. Youth Court also trains young people who want to become members of the court.
What happens in Youth Court? A youth, who has admitted guilt to a crime or an offense, appears for a sentencing hearing before a jury of peers. The jury hears evidence dealing with sentencing, deliberates, and passes sentence. Sentences typically include community service and counseling, and stress improvement on past behavior.
Who participates in Youth Court proceedings? Youth Court proceedings involve an offender, jurors, and Youth Court members in the roles of judge, prosecutor, defender, clerk/bailiff, and jury foreperson with guidance from a Director. All participants are under age eighteen. The offender must complete the sentence imposed by the jury, and in addition, must serve as a juror on at least one, and possibly several, cases. Any young person can volunteer to be a juror and no special classes are necessary. Instead, they hear and see the evidence, listen to the instruction from the judge, consider the case in private, and agree on a sentence.
What types of cases are heard in Youth Court? Cases are generally referred by judges, police, and probation departments to the Director, who accepts cases which meet established rules. Typical cases include shoplifting, criminal mischief, larceny, and vandalism.
What does the jury decide? The jury can impose a sentence that includes community service, letters of apology and attendance at classes or workshops. The jury cannot sentence any youth to a detention or jail facility.
What benefits are gained and what rights are given up by offenders? By agreeing to proceed in Youth Court, an offender obtains certain benefits, and waives certain rights. Benefits include a decision by a jury of peers which is aimed at helping the young person permanently stop their criminal conduct, and an opportunity to participate positively in the criminal justice system. Since an offender has already plead guilty, an offender gives up the following rights when they take part in Youth Court: the right to an attorney, the right to a trial fro determination of guilt, and the right to ask for a closed and private meeting.
Who can be a member of Youth Court? How do you become one? Members of Youth Court are young people who have successfully completed a law-related education training program. Areas on instruction include: an overview of the criminal justice system from arrest through appeal; the organization, jurisdiction, and operation of Youth Court; the penal law; the consequences of crime; and sentencing issues. Trainers include police, lawyers, victims' rights advocates and other professionals. The training program concludes with mock hearings to prepare members for participation in Youth Court proceedings.
What will I do? Youth Court members will serve in the following roles on a rotating basis:
 Judge - presides over the sentencing hearing, explains the criminal charge to the jury, instructs the jury on what evidence and factors to consider in deciding a sentence, and sentences the offender in accordance with the jury's verdict. |
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| Prosecutor - represents the interests of the people in the community, investigates the circumstances of the offense and background of the offender, presents evidence at the sentencing hearing, and recommends a sentence to the jury. |
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| Defender - represents the interests of the offender, investigates the circumstances of the offense and background of the offender, presents evidence at the sentencing hearing, including mitigating evidence, and makes a sentencing recommendation to the jury. |
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| Clerk/Bailiff - maintains accurate records of court proceedings, ensures smooth operation of court, and administers oaths. |
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| Jury Foreperson - leads deliberations of the jury, and ensures participation of all jurors and that all appropriate sentencing factors are addressed, calls for a vote during deliberations, and announces the jury's verdict. |
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Youth Court has benefited not only the youth in our county, but the criminal justice system as well. Substantial justice has been achieved while less court resources are used. The Prevention Council does an excellent job running the youth court, keeping the participants trained and identifying appropriate cases for referral. DA Murphy and The Prevention Council are proud partners in helping kids learn from their mistakes and encouraging them to make healthy, risk free choices.
The following article was written by Marissa Mastroianni, a student at Burnt Hills Ballston Lake High School and recently published in Magistrates Magazine:
Saratoga County Youth Court
Youth Court is a Youth run sentencing court where juveniles 19 and under are referred by Family Court through the Probation Department, and municipal court judges. Through the adult directors of the program and the youth volunteers, youth court provides another option of sentencing for young offenders. The offenders go through sentencing hearings to determine the right type of punishment they should get for the crime committed.
Youth Court has been gaining popularity all over the country for years. In 1994, there were just 78 youth courts. Today, over 1,150 youth courts are in place and operate in 49 states and the District of Columbia. Several hundred additional communities are planning on making youth court a part of their judicial system. Youth Court has been emerging as the fastest growing juvenile intervention program in the country. The rise in popularity of youth court is an indicator as to how successful youth court has been and is today. It is estimated that by the year 2015 as many as 25 percent of all juvenile arrests will be handled by youth court.
One of the components of youth court, which makes it so unique, is how volunteers who are local high school students that complete 16 hours of training handle the trial. It is a court system of their peers. They fill into all the roles of a regular adult court. These roles include prosecutor, defense attorney, judge, clerk, juror, and jury foreperson. No one else is allowed in the courtroom besides the offender, their family, the youth volunteers, and an adult who works with youth court. For Saratoga County Youth Court, the two fantastic ladies who are in charge are Lisa Chamberlain and Dawn Knight.
The other major difference between youth court and the current adult court system is that the focus is on rehabilitation. The types of punishments available through youth court include, but are not limited to, community service, jury duties, and letters of apology, risk and responsibility classes and jail tours. With all of these options for punishment, the young offender gets the message that what they did was unacceptable and understands the reasons why. This will further deter them from committing any more crimes.
I am a 16 year-old junior attending the Burnt Hills Ballston Lake High School. I have been in the program since my freshman year and I cannot put into words how great this program really is. Ever since I was a little kid, I have loved speaking in front of groups and had a fascination with the government and how it works. I want to become a lawyer at some point in my future. Being an overachiever myself, youth court has given me the opportunity to explore the justice system and add something worthwhile to my college application. I usually serve as either a prosecutor or defense attorney and travel all over Saratoga County for the program. I have seen first-hand how youth court works. The offenders coming into youth court admit they are guilty, so even before I see them, they have taken a step in the right direction. I have met many of the offenders and their families over the past few years while in the program and I can confidently say that all of those kids learned something from their experience at youth court. Forgetting all the statistics, the only thing that convinces me is seeing their face during the trial, which assures me that the message is getting through.
Youth court gives the offenders a second chance. The young adults who are sentenced to youth court are misguided and need to be put on the right path. The punishments given out by youth court are perfect ways for the offenders to rethink their actions and learn a life-long lesson. What is even better about the sentencing from youth court is that they give back to the community while doing it. The offenders can turn themselves around without worrying about having a criminal record, because once they complete their sentence, their records are wiped clean so they can start off fresh.
When looking at what exactly makes youth court so successful, first you have to turn to the coordinators of the program. Lisa Chamberlain is the director of the program and Dawn Knight is the assistant director. Both of these ladies put so much effort and time into Saratoga County Youth Court, it amazes me. Saratoga County is extremely lucky to have such devoted women helping its youth. They are two of the most indispensable people the county has. Without them, I’m not sure where all these offenders would be. The volunteers for youth court keep the program running. Without the group of willing local high school students, youth court would not exist. Lastly, all the judges who send the offenders to youth court and all the government officials who support the cause are the ones who give youth court the resources it needs to continue on.
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