WASHINGTON STATE ASSOCIATION OF YOUTH COURTS

Trooper Brandon Vitanti, WSP Presentation: Impaired Driving Bothell Youth Court Restorative Justice Circle Electing New Board Members Incoming Youth Vice-President Kira Bloomenthal - Bellevue Youth Court Incoming Adult Vice-President Terri Cooper - Cheney Youth Court

Bothell Youth Court has created two interesting innovations in the youth court hearing process - the use of expert witnesses and the restorative circle for deliberations. Three officers - two with the fire department and one with the local police department rotate serving as expert witnesses at the youth court hearings. In each case, the prosecutor calls the expert and solicits other situations that the officer is aware of that have had a variety of consequences. For example, in the case on June 8, Deputy Chief/Fire Marshall Frank Shasky described other instances in which he investigated aggressive driving maneuvers. Having the expert to testify provides a live perspective on the potential consequences of bad driving. The Youth Court has also adopted a restorative circle, rather than the traditional jury deliberations. The jury comes out of the jury box and sits in a circle with all the advocates, the respondent, and the expert. This is done publicly in court so that the people in the ...

The date is set for the 2015 WSAYC (Washington State Association of Youth Courts) Fall Conference . Save the date of Saturday, November 14, 2015, 9:30AM to 3:30PM , at the Seattle University School of Law.   This year’s conference theme focuses on “C hoices and consequences” and promises to be exciting, informative and fun-filled with expert guest speakers, live demonstrations and lots of swag, including tickets to local Seattle attractions!   You don’t want to miss this so watch for future emails, flyer and registration information! I look forward to seeing you all at the conference!   Kelley R Gradwohl WSAYC President

According to the National Youth Court Database, in 1994 there were only 78 youth court programs in operation; as of March, 2010, there were over 1,050 youth court programs in operation in 49 states and the District of Columbia. Conflicting accounts in the literature create challenges to tracing the exact beginnings of youth court programs. One of the earliest known programs still in operation is the Naperville Youth  Jury in Naperville, Illinois. Naperville’s program started in June of 1972. There are also anecdotal reports of a youth court that began operating in Horseheads, NY in 1968.

Kaylee Ditlefsen joined teen court this year and has started out strong.   She has engaged in all training opportunities afforded and has volunteered to be prosecutor, defense and judge for the court.  Clallam County Teen Court is very excited to see that Kaylee was selected as Soroptimist’s Girl of the Month of November, 2014.   We know that she will make her dream come true of heading to law school and becoming a prosecutor.  We are truly excited to see what the future holds for Kaylee. -Submitted by Tracey Lassus - Deputy Prosecutor