Anchorage Youth Court Gavel Games

February 22nd, 2008

6:00 - 10:00pm at BP Energy Center

Gavel Games Information

"Justice For Youth By Youth"

Anchorage Youth Court ("AYC") is an organized and effective juvenile justice system. It provides Anchorage youth with opportunities for personal growth and an understanding of our legal system.

Anchorage Youth Court gives youth offenders personal accountability, youth attorneys good training and the opportunity to make a significant difference in others' lives and the public an effective and comprehensive public saftey system.

History of AYC

1988 - 1989

The idea for Anchorage Youth Court, incorporated as a 501(3)c non-profit organization in 1989, started when Blythe Marston, a local attorney, shared information she had gathered from the Ithaca Youth Court in New York, while attending Cornell University. She and others from the Anchorage Bar Association Young Lawyers Section organized a town meeting in 1988 to explore developing a local youth court. They invited possible supporters from McLaughlin Youth Center's Juvenile Intake, the Alaska Court System, the Anchorage Police Department, the Anchorage School District, the Anchorage Bar Association, local businesses and interested students and parents to the meeting. These volunteers created and developed the Anchorage Youth Court model. With community involvement, in-kind donations and $1,700 from the Anchorage Bar Association, the new program took root, winning its first national education award from the American Bar Association in 1989.

March 1989 - 1995

Anchorage Youth Court received its first juvenile criminal cases in March 1989, after almost 100 Anchorage area youth received training and were sworn-in as Youth Court members. Between 1989 and 1995, the student volunteers adjudicated between 18 and 20 cases annually. Assisted by a part-time coordinator, an attorney who volunteered as primary legal advisor and a budget of up to $50,000 annually, the defendant recidivism rate was under 5% according to Juvenile Intake. Also, during this period, Anchorage Youth Court earned two national legal education and collaboration awards from the American Bar Association and Information America.

1996 - Making a Difference

During 1995, juvenile crime in Anchorage rose dramatically, concerning the public. Anchorage's local government leaders began efforts to reduce juvenile crime. Learning of Anchorage Youth Court's efffectiveness, low operating costs and large youth volunteer base, which had grown to over 250 students annually, they invited Anchorage Youth Court and others to help plan and implement the Making a Difference Program. This pilot project would hold more youth accountable for breaking the law and would reduce the time between arrest and intervention, enabling youth to relate their actions to consequences. Anchorage Youth Court student members reorganzied Youth Court to weekly arraign and sentence up to 25 defendants pleading no contest at Juvenile Intake. Anchorage Youth Court would still continue to accept cases in which the defendant plead no contest.

1996 - Today

Since January 1996, the State of Alaska Division of Juvenile Justice has referred over 3,000 juvenile criminal cases to Anchorage Youth Court for adjudication. Defendants have earned and paid victims over$57,000 and worked over 67,000 community service hours to repay the community for breaking its laws.

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AYC Quick Facts

Anchorage Youth Court's purpose: Stop illegal behavior while encouraging understanding and respect for the law through positive peer pressure in a formal court setting.

Funding 2004

$324,443 Income, $272,212 Expense: $115,000 from the Municipality of Anchorage, $17,393 program fees, $34,000 from DJJ grants, $31,000 from United Way, $78,000 in small grants, donations/fundraising ($ rounded). $328,400 in-kind ($79,900 goods and $248,500 in services)

2004 Participants

359 trained youth in grades 7-12 served as youth court judges, attorneys, clerks and bailiffs. 365 defendants adjudicated by Juvenile Intake, including 26 children aged 9-12 referred to AYC Pre-Court. 89 adult attorneys volunteered their time to train and advise in and for court.

Statistics/Achievements

$569 = expense for each Anchorage Youth Court defendant, of which they must earn and pay $50. (For comparison - $150 a day for a youth to reside in McLaughlin Youth Center, totaling $54,750 per year).

94% = Highest succes for nonrecidivism; Dept. of Justice Urban Institute Youth Court Effectiveness Study found Anchorage Youth Court the most successful of 4 youth court models used in different states. Evaluators attribute success to strong peer influence.

Under 10 days - average time from referral to cout appearance for Anchorage Youth Court defendants.

75 days- average time from arrest to sanction completion for Anchorage Youth Court defendants.

$57,539 total restitution earned and paid by defendants to victims (1996-2003) .

67,841 community service hours defendant have worked to repay the community for breaking its laws (1996-2003).

20% of Anchorage juvenile offenders are appropriate for Anchorage Youth Court.

2002 - All American City Award - partner in winning application.