WASHINGTON STATE ASSOCIATION OF YOUTH COURTS

Welcome to Cascadia Tech Academy from Vancouver, WA as our newest Association Member!

Bellevue Youth Court - "The student respondents are successfully completing well beyond the average 10-hour community service hours required.  Most are completing 50-60 hours on their own and coming out stronger than when they came in" - Bellevue Youth Court Volunteer Bothell Youth Court - "We are working on grants and fundraising in hopes of being able to hire a coordinator.  We will need additional staffing if we expand to hear other types of cases outside of traffic" - Bothell Youth Court Volunteer Cheney Youth Court - "Two years ago we came to the WSAYC Annual Conference and saw a demonstration of a youth court circle and other models. Out of that came many ideas for our own youth court.  We are also utilizing several local attorneys to help with training including questioning skills.  Because of our attending the Conference we have been able to improve our own youth court and make many connections across the State" - Commissioner Terri Cooper - Ch

Adult Vice-President Courtney Bell recognizes out-going Student President Kira Bloomenthal! Thank you, Kira, for your dedication to the Association. Job Well Done!

Some highlights from the 2017 Conference featuring Rebecca Bradlow from the King Co. Public Defenders Office; Stevens, Ferry, Pend Oreille Superior Court Juge Reeves ; Tacoma Municipal Court Judge Drew Henke; and Attorneys Josie Wiggs-Martin and Andrea Jarmon.

Jennet Mitikie New Statewide Student Vice-President From Seattle Youth Traffic Court

The  Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts and the Washington State Association of Youth Courts invite you to attend the 2017 Fall Washington State Youth Court Conference, held at Seattle University School of Law. This year’s conference brings youth courts together from across the state to strengthen existing youth courts, launch the start of new youth courts and educate youth about  issues that face young people in society. Activities begin at 9:30 AM with registration and check in. Questions? Call Margaret Fisher (AOC) 206-501-7963 There is no registration fee for the program and lunch is provided. 

Introduced by Sen. Jeralita "Jeri" Costa (D) on January 31, 2001 Senate Bill 5692 was a directive to assist entities to create youth courts that have jurisdiction over certain offenses alleged to have been committed by juveniles between the ages of eight and seventeen. The bill outlines the conditions under which juveniles may participate in youth court. The Office of the Administrator for the Courts and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction must encourage t he courts and school districts, respectively, to work with cities, counties, and students to expand and implement youth courts. As today's youth court students lobby to make changes to the bill I can't help but remember the many trips to Olympia with my youth court students who lobbied for the passage of the bill. Jennifer Gibson Hoople , Ann Jensen, Johannes Anderson were among the student leader's who were on a first name basis with many senators and representatives in Olympia by the

The Youth Court Road Show By Margaret E. Fisher Suddenly all these young people were wearing the same Youth Court Road Show t-shirt, highlighting the theme of this year’s statewide Youth Court Association Conference on November 12, 2016. Student president Kira Bloomenthal opened the conference and set the tone for an interactive session. With the gracious funding from the Washington Judges Foundation, the annual conference was attended by 75 adults and young people.  On the Road with Cheney Firefighter Tim Steiner highlighted what happens to people in car crashes. He recruited a youth from the audience to demonstrate the neck brace, various breathing tubes, splints, and transport. Washington State Association of Youth Courts Vice President elected Courtney Bell, Vice-President Terri Cooper and Kira Bloomenthal explored the Road to Legislation. The overall purpose was to launch legislative action to change existing RCWs governing youth courts, to expand coverage of what cases yout