youth court

Tuesday was graduation night in the Old Courthouse in Batavia for the seniors who have participated in Youth Court during their high school years.

Youth Court adjudicates actual cases involving youthful offenders. It's a voluntary alternative for young people facing disciplinary action.  The young offenders are those who are willing to admit to wrongdoing and submit to a hearing before their peers, who will recommend a sentence based on facts presented at trial. 

The goal of Youth Court, which began in Genesee County in 2008 and is coordinated by the Genesee County Youth Bureau, is to develop citizenship skills among students as well as help them develop decision-making tools and better understand the judicial process.

The graduation was timed to coincide with National Law Day.

Six of the nine school districts in Genesee County participate, and this year there were 23 students involved in Youth Court. 

Youth Court proceedings are confidential.

"The youth who come before our members really learn from their mistakes, and they don't end up somewhere else in our criminal justice system," said Chelsea Elliott, youth program coordinator.  "We hope they come here, they say, 'I don't want to get in trouble again,' and then they don't end up across the street at Family Court or anywhere else in our criminal justice system."

Following the brief graduation ceremony, the students performed a Mock Trial for the parents who attended to observe.

Press release:

Calling all 8-11th graders, the Genesee County Youth Court is recruiting new members!  Youth Court is a voluntary alternative for young people who face disciplinary action through school or law enforcement.  Youth who are referred admit to the charge and appear before a court of their peers.  Three youth judges listen to both sides of the issue and determine an appropriate disposition.  The goal of youth court is to improve youth citizenship skills and decrease problematic behavior. 

Youth Court members learn about the judicial process & law enforcement; develop group decision-making, leadership and public speaking skills; participate in all roles of the courtroom: judge, prosecution, defense, and bailiff. 

Genesee County 8-11th graders who are interested can go online to download an application from the website https://www.co.genesee.ny.us/departments/youthbureau/youthcourt.php .  Applications are due by August 12th.  Interviews of potential candidates will take place in August and September with the training to begin in October. 

For more information on the Genesee County Youth Court, please contact Chelsea Elliott at the Genesee County Youth Bureau, 344-3960.

Press release:

Calling all 8-11th graders, the Genesee County Youth Court is recruiting new members!  Youth Court is a voluntary alternative for young people who face disciplinary action through school or law enforcement.  Youth who are referred admit to the charge and appear before a court of their peers.  Three youth judges listen to both sides of the issue and determine an appropriate disposition.  The goal of youth court is to improve youth citizenship skills and decrease problematic behavior. 

Youth Court members learn about the judicial process & law enforcement; develop group decision making, leadership and public speaking skills; participate in all roles of the courtroom: judge, prosecution, defense, and bailiff. 

Genesee County 8-11th graders who are interested can go online to download an application from the website https://www.co.genesee.ny.us/departments/youthbureau/youthcourt.php.  Applications are due by August 12th.  Interviews of potential candidates will take place in August and September with the training to begin in October. 

For more information on the Genesee County Youth Court, please contact Chelsea Elliott at the Genesee County Youth Bureau, 344-3960.

Julie Muntz, a Genesee County Youth Court member since 2018, and a 2021 Graduate at Oakfield-Alabama Central School was one of the 30 Youth Court members who applied for the Association of New York State Youth Courts Scholarships. The ANYSYC awarded four regional scholarships and one Judge Judith Kaye Memorial Scholarship. The Judge Judith Kaye Memorial Scholarship was awarded to the highest graded applicant, which was awarded to Julie! Julie received the highest grade on her application out of the other 30 youth from all over New York State. To qualify for the ANYSYC scholarship, the youth court member must be a graduating senior and a member of a Youth Court Program that paid membership dues to ANYSYC in 2021. The applicant must enroll in a 2 or 4-year program at an accredited college/university. The individual must be of good moral character, have demonstrated civic responsibility through volunteerism, and have a good strong desire to make a contribution to his/her community. The process included an application, an essay including educational goals, career goals, why they are deserving of this scholarship, and what being a member of a Youth Court has done for them, along with one letter of recommendation. On behalf of ANYSYC, Julie was awarded $500 to put towards her college education where she is now attending Canisius College to study Animal Behavior. Julie plans to stay involved in the Genesee County Youth Court Program as an advisor which really shows her dedication and worthiness of this scholarship. Congratulations Julie!

Press release:

Calling all eighth- to 11th-graders in Genesee County interested in Youth Court! Youth Court is a voluntary alternative for young people who face disciplinary action through school or law enforcement.

Youth who are referred admit to the charge and appear before a court of their peers. There are three youth judges who listen to both sides of the issue and determine an appropriate disposition. The goal of Youth Court is to improve youth citizenship skills and decrease problematic behavior.

Youth Court members learn about the judicial process and law enforcement, group decision making; develop their public speaking skills; participate in a great leadership opportunity; and learn and participate in all roles of the courtroom: judge, prosecution, defense, and bailiff.

Eighth- to 11th-graders who are interested can go online to access an application form on the Genesee County website.

Print the application, fill it out and:

• Mail it to: Chelsea Elliott, Youth Court, Genesee County Youth Bureau, 2 Bank St., Batavia, NY 14020
• Or scan it electronically and email it to:   chelsea.elliott@co.genesee.ny.us
• Or fax it to: (585) 345-3063

Applications are due by July 31st.

Interviews of potential candidates will take place in August with the training to begin in October.

For more information on the Genesee County Youth Court, please contact Chelsea Elliott at the Genesee County Youth Bureau, 344-3960.

Press release:

Calling all eighth- to 11^th-graders in Genesee County and any other individuals interested in Youth Court! On May 7, Genesee County Youth Court will be celebrating Law Day from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Old Courthouse (7 Main St., Batavia) to show the community how our court operates.

Applications and brochures will be available along with program staff to answer questions for anyone who is interested in joining.

Youth Court is a voluntary alternative for young people who face disciplinary action through school or law enforcement.

Youth who are referred admit to the charge and appear before a court of their peers. There are three youth judges who listen to both sides of the issue and determine an appropriate disposition. The goal of Youth Court is to improve youth citizenship skills and decrease problematic behavior.

Youth Court members learn about the judicial process and law enforcement, group decision making; develop their public speaking skills; participate in a great leadership opportunity; and learn and participate in all roles of the courtroom: judge, prosecution, defense, and bailiff.

Eighth- to 11^th-graders who are interested can attend Law Day on May 7^th or go online to access an application form on the Genesee County website here.

Print the application, fill it out and:

• Mail it to: Chelsea Elliott, Youth Court, Genesee County Youth Bureau, 2 Bank St., Batavia, NY 14020
• Or scan it electronically and email it to:  chelsea.elliott@co.genesee.ny.us
• Or fax it to: (585) 345-3063

Applications are due by July 26. Interviews of potential candidates will take place in August with the training to begin in October.

For more information on the Genesee County Youth Court, please contact Chelsea Elliott at the Genesee County Youth Bureau, 344-3960.

Press release:

Calling all eighth-11^th-graders, the Genesee County Youth Court is recruiting new members!

Youth Court is a voluntary alternative for young people who face disciplinary action through school or law enforcement. Youth who are referred admit to the charge and appear before a court of their peers. Three youth judges listen to both sides of the issue and determine an appropriate disposition.

The goal of youth court is to improve youth citizenship skills and decrease problematic behavior.  

Youth Court members learn: about the judicial process and law enforcement; to develop group decision making, leadership and public speaking skills; to participate in all roles of the courtroom -- judge, prosecution, defense and bailiff.  

Genesee County 8-11^th-graders who are interested can go online to download an application from the website www.co.genesee.ny.us, where you will find a link on the Youth Bureau page. Applications are due by Aug. 31. Interviews of potential candidates will take place in September with the training to begin in October. 

For more information on the Genesee County Youth Court, please contact Chelsea Elliott at the Genesee County Youth Bureau, 344-3960.

Press release:

Genesee County is in the developmental stages of a Youth Court to serve youth in the county. Youth Court is the process of being judged by your peers for minor offenses.

Genesee will have a dispositional court with a panel of judges. Youth will serve in all roles – judge, prosecutor, defense, bailiff and court clerk. Referrals will come to the court from law enforcement and schools. The sentencing is individualized to the respondent and the behavior that brought them to court and based on of restorative justice.

The Genesee County Youth Bureau is currently seeking youth to sit on the court in the positions mentioned above. Interested youth, entering grades eight through 11 in Genesee County may apply.

Selected youth must complete 20 hours of training, which will be held in two-hour segments over a 10-week period. Training will begin in October, and the court is expected to begin hearing cases in January.

An application can be downloaded from the Genesee County website www.co.genesee.ny.us, where you will find a link on the Youth Bureau page. If you would like further information or to have an application mailed to you, please contact the Genesee County Youth Bureau at 344-3960. Applications will be accepted on or before Sept. 28.

Press release:

Genesee County Youth Court swore in the Class of 2016 members on Tuesday, Jan. 10 at the Old Courthouse, Batavia. The oath and charge of confidentiality were administered by the honorable Judge Adams. The new youth court members are: Taylor Augello, Leah Bezon, Catherine Grossman, Nathan Knickerbocker, Michal Lullo, Ryan Manges, David Russo, Taya Townley, Shawn Turner, Mary Vandenbosch and Lakin Woodward. The Youth Court is run by the Genesee County Youth Bureau and funded through Department of Social Services.

Kelsey Scott-Avery, a Genesee County Youth Court member who recently graduated after being homeschooled, won the Association of New York State Youth Court’s Judge Judith Kaye Memorial Scholarship.

Judge Judith Kaye was the first woman to serve as the New York State’s Chief Justice and the longest-serving Chief Justice, who unfortunately passed away in January.

Judge Kaye was an advocate for the Youth Court System and she lived the example that when you are inspired to act, do it. She was inspired by youth courts in Alaska and she brought that inspiration to New York. 

To qualify for the scholarship, the youth court member must be a graduating senior and a member of a Youth Court Program that paid membership dues to ANYSYC in 2015.

The applicant must enroll in a two- or four-year program at an accredited college/university. The individual must be of good moral character, have demonstrated civic responsibility through volunteerism, and have a good strong desire to make a contribution to his/her community. The process included an application, an essay specified in the honor of Judge Kaye. Applicants were to write on the topic of how they plan to impact their field of study the way Judge Kaye impacted the court system.

On behalf of ANYSYC, Kelsey was awarded $500 to put toward her college education. She will be attending Genesee Community College and transferring to a four-year university to become a school counselor.

Press release:

Calling all eighth- through 11th-graders, the Genesee County Youth Court is recruiting new members! Applications are due by the middle of September to 2 Bank St., Batavia.

Youth Court is a voluntary alternative for young people who face disciplinary action through school or law enforcement. Youth who are referred admit to the charge and appear before a court of their peers. Three youth judges listen to both sides of the issue and determine an appropriate disposition.

The goal of youth court is to improve youth citizenship skills and decrease problematic behavior.

Youth Court members learn about the judicial process and law enforcement; develop group decision making, leadership and public speaking skills; participate in all roles of the courtroom -- judge, prosecution, defense and bailiff.

County eighth- through 11th-graders who are interested can go online to download an application from the Web site <http://www.co.genesee.ny.us> where you will find a link on the Youth Bureau page.

Interviews of potential candidates will take place during early fall with the training to begin in October. For more information on the Genesee County Youth Court, please contact Chelsea Dillon at the Genesee County Youth Bureau, 344-3960.