Youth Court: The Staten Island Youth Court is a peer led court where teens hear cases (for example, shoplifting, graffiti and truancy) committed by peers.  Local teenagers serve as judge, advocates and jurors. Cases are referred by the New York City Department of Probation as a diversion from court, and the New York City Police Department as a result of police contact not resulting in arrest.  In partnership with the New York City criminal court and the Richmond County District Attorney’s office, the Youth Court also hears criminal court cases.  Young people under 18 who are arrested for low-level, non-violent offenses are offered an opportunity to participate in Youth Court as a condition of their case disposition. Those who successfully complete the Youth Court process receive an Adjournment in Contemplation of Dismissal (ACD). The Youth Court is not a fact-finding body – rather it hears cases where the defendant or respondent has acknowledged responsibility for the offense and has agreed to participate.  After deliberation, members impose appropriate sanctions that hold youth accountable and emphasize restorative justice concepts. The Youth Court trains 40 teens and handles 120 cases each year.

Staten Island Youth Court and Mayor Bloomberg.

Project READY (Richmond Engagement Activities for Determined Youth): Project READY began operations in April 2009 and provides case management, after-school programming and rigorous compliance monitoring for young people with pending delinquency cases in Family Court. The program stresses individual accountability, law-abiding behavior, and adherence to court-mandated parole conditions. Staff utilizes an assortment of engagement strategies for participants and family members to promote compliance. READY provides family court judges with timely, accurate and comprehensive information regarding the participants’ compliance with court mandates. Youth who successfully complete READY are much more likely to avoid placement and receive community-based dispositions.  Project READY works with 60 young people each year.

In the coming days, the Center will pilot an innovative respite program as part of the Staten Island Youth Justice Center.  In collaboration with the New York Foundling (NYF), the Center will launch the city’s first program designed exclusively for youth who do not present a serious risk to the community, but who cannot return home.  The program model, funded through the New York State Office of Criminal Justice Services, will rely on trained Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (MTFC) families. MTFC is a model evidence-based program found to be highly effective in reducing delinquency and recidivism among justice-involved youth. Yong people placed in respite will be concurrently enrolled in Project READY, creating a seamless web of support and supervision for participating youth and families.