WASHINGTON STATE ASSOCIATION OF YOUTH COURTS

The National Association of Youth Courts, Inc., a 501 (c)(3) membership organization, serves as a central point of contact for youth court programs across the nation, providing informational services, delivering training and technical assistance, and developing resource materials on how to develop and enhance youth court programs in the United States. We are dedicated to providing leadership for a restorative justice model of early intervention so that young people have access to services without formal processing in traditional juvenile justice systems. Planning for the creation of NAYC began in 2005 with the specific purpose of establishing a private not-for-profit organization to represent and serve local, state and national youth court, teen court, peer court and student court efforts since this local grass-roots movement began a quarter of a century ago. The official founding of the National Association of Youth Courts, Inc., in 2007, was supported by the Office of Juvenile

New -- Juvenile Justice Journal Article titled "Global Youth Justice: Made in America" in Reclaiming Youth International Journal. Written by Scott Bernard Peterson. Download Free on GlobalYouthJustice.org at http://GlobalYouthJustice.org/uploads/GlobalYouthJusticeArticle2009.pdf   

The Washington State Association of Youth Courts is hosting its annual Youth Court Conference at University of Washington - Bothell Campus in Building UW2 (Commons Hall) on October 18, 2014 with registration starting at 9:30, and running from 10 to 4 p.m. The focus is on restorative justice with a special emphasis on  youth courts as an alternative to suspensions from school. Experts will present on the school to prison pipeline, restorative justice circles, and the youth representing several different youth courts in WA will present restorative justice in their courts, and conduct a mock school hearing. In addition, a detective from Bothell Police Department will demonstrate police technology. The event is open to youth courts and to communities interested in learning more about how youth courts can serve their local community. A session will focus on issues for existing coordinators and for new communities. The event is free, and offers clock hours, CLEs and MCJEs. Contact Marg