Youth courts are an innovative quasi-legal forum in which adolescents pass judgment on their peers in cases involving relatively minor offenses. These courts hold much promise to benefit offending youth, the youthful volunteers who participate in the adjudicative process, the traditional juvenile court system, victims, and surrounding communities. Based on a survey completed of the fortytwo youth courts operating in New York State, this article describes the diverse and overlapping objectives, target populations, and operating procedures of the youth tribunals. It discusses the interrelated nature of youth court goals, subjects, and procedures, and offers general prescriptions for the more effective design and operation of youth courts.
This participatory research study engaged community organizations to progress toward a sharedgoal of reducing county-level childhood obesity. A structured review of regional, state, and national healthpromotion programs was completed, followed by phone interviews with community stakeholders to identifypotential activities to meet this goal. This resulted in development of five toolkits for various sectors: mu-nicipalities, businesses, community groups, schools, and child care centers. Toolkits included criteria andobjectives for achievement levels (bronze, silver, gold) modi ed and endorsed by community stakeholdersvia focus groups. Community involvement in developing the toolkits helped create a collective impacttoward the county’s goal.
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