Youth Aid Panel

Program Description

The Youth Aid Panel is an innovative diversionary program designed to effectively address juvenile crime and assist District and Juvenile Courts in handling selected juvenile cases. The program aims to increase community awareness of juvenile crime while also involving the community in being responsible for their youth. It also links law enforcement agencies, community resources, and trained volunteer panelists from the community.

Juveniles charged with eligible first-time offenses may be referred to the Youth Aid Panel by the Juvenile Probation Department. If accepted by the panel, the juvenile and parents must agree to be part of the panel process. If the juvenile and parents choose to be a part of the Youth Aid Panel process, a formal meeting between the juvenile, parents, and the panel will be scheduled. At the meeting, the panel interviews all parties, including the victim (if they choose to participate), and an agreement is reached between the juvenile, the panel, and the juvenile’s parents. This contract may require community service, an apology letter to the victim, or any of a number of activities designed to help the juvenile be accountable for his or her actions.

It must be stressed that the panel is not a court of law and does not determine guilt or innocence. The youth and his/her parents must agree to guilt in order to be a part of the panel’s proceedings. These proceedings are also non-adversarial, meaning that representation by an attorney is strongly discouraged. If at any time the juvenile and his/her parents choose to go to Juvenile Court instead of the Youth Aid Panel, they have that right. Due process protection is a high priority.

If the juvenile breaks the contract in any way during the contract period (for example, by re-offending), then the case will automatically be referred back to Juvenile Probation or the appropriate District Court for further disposition.

Participation in the Youth Aid Panel

Applicants must be at least eighteen years of age and residents of the municipality in which their Panel operates. All applications will be processed through the Pennsylvania State Police for Criminal History and Child Abuse record checks.

All Panelists will commit to serving at least one year and will participate in an intensive training process before hearing cases.

Panels will meet at least one time per month, more if caseload requires it, and ongoing support will be provided through the Franklin County Juvenile Probation Department.

Goals

• To keep youth from becoming more deeply involved in delinquent activities and possible costly detentions.
• To attempt to understand the cause of the act and help the youth and his/her family resolve the problem.
• To make the youth responsible for his/her actions through service to the community.
• To keep the youth from getting a juvenile record.
• To provide a means of satisfying the victim.
• To promote and encourage community participation in the resolution of youth problems.

Benefits

• Juvenile offenders who successfully complete the contract will not have an official court record, thereby affording them a "second chance."
• The panel process is less costly to the youth, his/her family, and the public.
• The panel process provides a means of satisfying victims.
• The panel process provides a forum for discussing problems between youth, their parents, and concerned community members.
• The panel process provides a means for which the juvenile and his/her family will understand that they live in a community that cares and that expects responsible resolutions for criminal behavior.
• The panel process provides expeditious resolutions to juvenile crimes. The panel hears most cases within several weeks after the arrest.

Results

The Youth Aid Panel assists in providing a means to increase the accountability of youth for their actions, while also satisfying the victim of the youth’s undesirable actions. The Panel also provides a way for the youth to have a "second chance" since he/she has no official court record if they successfully complete the terms of the contract between himself/herself and the Youth Aid Panel. Community members are exposed to and educated by the cases they hear; problems of the youth in their communities become clearer as a result of hearing panel cases.