Klamath County Juvenile Department

Peer Court

Matthew Griffith, Youth Peer Court Coordinator
Klamath County Juvenile Department
(541) 884-4167 Ext. 30

What is a Peer Court?

Youth Peer Court is a program for first time offenders who have committed certain misdemeanors or violations and have no previous record. The youth is held accountable for their law breaking activity through a court system that allows their peer to be their jury and render a constructive sentence. The young offender must be willing to admit to his or her offense and accept the sentence given by their peers. Youth Peer Court is a volunteer program. Offending youth are given this option in lieu of formal proceedings before a Circuit Court Judge.

The jury is comprised of young volunteers aged 12-18 recruited from Jr. High and High Schools throughout the Basin. The volunteer youth receive a mandatory one day training and additional training as they serve on the jury. Other than a volunteer Judge and a Youth Peer Court Coordinator, the youth effectively run the court. They serve as jurors, bailiffs, case presenters and even peer attorneys.

Why a Peer Court?

Due to the volume of serious crimes being committed and the caseload size of Juvenile Department Counselors, first time/minor offenses are often given lesser consequences and experience fewer contacts from Counselors. Quite often offending youth are left with the impression that they are not going to be held accountable for their offense or that their behavior is of no consequence. The first time offender frequently becomes the second and subsequent offender under these conditions.

Youth Peer Court is designed to hold First Time Offenders accountable without overburdening the Juvenile system. Nationally, programs of this type have consistently proven effective in reducing repeat offender rates.

Klamath County Youth Peer Court boasts a recidivism rate of 7% locally, as contrasted to 20% for the First Time Offender Program and 32% for the Klamath County Juvenile Department as a whole.

How does Peer Court work?

Referrals for the Youth Peer Court come from the Klamath County Juvenile Department intake process. Youth from throughout the Klamath Basin are eligible for this program. Once a youth has appeared for the mandatory first appearance at court, he/she is given an appointment to meet with the Youth Peer Court Coordinator at the Klamath County Juvenile Department. The Coordinator discusses the offense with the youth and his/her parent and determines the youth's appropriateness for Youth Peer Court. If the youth is accepted for Youth Peer Court they are summonsed to the next available Youth Peer Court session. Following court, the youth meets once more with the YPC Coordinator to receive the necessary instructions and to discuss fulfilling his/her sentence. The YPC Coordinator then maintains regular contact with the youth to insure completion.

Offenses

Youth Peer Court addresses offenses such as...

  • Theft II and III
  • Assault IV
  • Criminal Trespass
  • Criminal Mischief
  • Harassment
  • Minor in Possession of Alcohol
  • Minor in Possession of Tobacco
  • Possession of <1oz of Marijuana
  • Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor (By a minor)

Sentencing

A sentence from Youth Peer Court could include, but is not limited to...

  • Written or verbal apology to victim
  • Reports or Essays
  • GPA improvement / Mandatory participation in extra curricular activity

The Youth Peer Court sentence will always include...

  • Community service work
  • Jury Duty (the defendant serves once as a "peer Juror")

Benefits to Youth

Youth Peer Courts provides an opportunity for:

  • Youth volunteers to learn about the judicial system
  • Offending and Non offending youth to interact in positive atmosphere
  • Offending youth experience consequences fro behavior
  • Job skills, experience and community service are learned by all youth involved

Benefit to the Community

Youth Peer Court provides a valuable service to the community. It educates young volunteers about the legal system; it hold young offenders accountable for their behavior without costing the taxpayers any additional funds. It also provides a valuable workforce for the community as young offenders work off their debt through community service work.