What is a Youth Court and what types of cases are handled in a Youth Court?
A Youth Court is a specialized court system that handles juvenile cases in California. It is part of the wider juvenile justice system and is designed to be an alternative to the traditional court system. The idea behind the Youth Court is to give the juvenile offender the opportunity to go through the court process with their peers, rather than adults. In the Youth Court, the participants, or "youth jurors", are usually high school-aged or college-aged individuals who volunteer to serve on a jury. This allows them to learn more about the court process, while also gaining valuable experience working in the judicial system. The youth jurors are responsible for deciding the outcome of the case and other matters such as sentencing. In California, the Youth Court is used to handle cases involving juvenile delinquency. These cases range from minor violations such as trespassing, vandalism, and littering, to more serious crimes such as assault and drug-related offenses. The Youth Court also handles cases of truancy, juvenile sexual offenses, alcohol violations, and gang violence. The goal of the Youth Court is to provide a more effective way of dealing with juvenile offenders, who may have committed serious crimes, without having to go through the traditional court system. The Youth Court Process provides numerous benefits to both the offender and the community. It allows offenders to have the opportunity to have their cases tried informally and to have their peers involved in their sentencing. It also discourages recidivism, as offenders are able to work through their issues in a more positive environment rather than in a court of law. By having a more positive approach to juvenile offenses, the Youth Court provides an alternative to the traditional court system and offers more effective solutions.
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