Youth Court program provides jail-free solutions for Queens teens
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Councilmember Rory Lancman stands with Youth Court participants.
By Rachel Vick
An innovative court program for Queens teens accused of certain offenses relies on the peers to hand down sanctions and help hold young people accountable for their actions, without facing incarceration.
The Queens Youth Justice Center works to keep teenagers out of the criminal justice system while helping kids build a “productive, successful and law abiding life.” Last year, the program engaged roughly 100 participants, according to director Erika McSwaine.
One of the staples of the program is Youth Court, which provides a peer-led alternative to involvement in the justice system. Instead of Family or Criminal Court, minor offenses can instead be brought before a jury of the teen’s peers.
The Youth Court is supervised by an adult staff member, but the final decision on sanctions rests on the shoulders of a group of 14-18-year-olds.
Although many participants in the program are involved through alternative-to-detention initiative, McSwain said that, by the end, many leave with a genuinely positive experience.
“For a lot of our ATD participants, the ones who are mandated, at the beginning they just want to show up to make sure their case gets dismissed, but during their time with us they're able to explore the areas that they enjoy and want to improve in,” McSwain said. “Some finish the mandated time and they want to stay around - we’re not in the business of turning people away.”
Preventative programming and community involvement efforts have begun to shape the center’s efforts, “giving [young people] something positive to keep them off the streets” before negative influence.
The center works in communities to promote civic engagement and create leadership opportunities through programs like the Youth Justice Counsel. Students participate in activities that bridge the gaps between young people and law enforcement and promote interaction with government officials. In-school programming educates groups on the current workings of the justice system, and often inspires further involvement.
“We’ve had a lot of young people come to our doors after they’ve engaged in programs and are looking to see how they can play a role in the changes in their community,” McSwain said. “We want to create a space for them to explore opportunities or involvement.”
The different areas of service contribute to their efforts to maintain a holistic approach to youth offense. Family programs and aftercare are available to help with resolving underlying issues so that the focus can be on the children, in addition to assistance in understanding the legal process .
The program plans to expand to include new initiatives; Queens Hope will focus on those who have been identified as victims of or are at risk of human or labor trafficking, and a workforce development program will help young people develop readiness skills.
The Youth Justice Centers across all five boroughs receive funding from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, the City of New York, the Butler Foundation and the New York Community Trust.
