What is Anchorage Youth Court?
Anchorage Youth Court (AYC) is a diversionary program for youth in grades 7 through 12 who are accused of breaking the law to be judged by their peers. Local youth take on the roles of attorneys, judges, bailiffs, clerks, and jurors during the trials. Anchorage Youth Court members develop and apply an understanding of the law through legal education, Anchorage Youth Court Bar Association membership, and actual participation in AYC court hearings. AYC is a highly beneficial program because defendants are afforded a chance, in a court hearing by trained local youth, to resolve their legal problems without receiving a formal juvenile record, and the community receives valuable work service as redress for the wrongs committed.
To pass the bar exam and become a member of the Anchorage Youth Court, youth complete a class about basic legal principles and practices. The Anchorage Youth Court Bar Association meets quarterly and members participate in activities designed to provide a broader perspective of the judicial system and restorative justice. Activities include workshops, mock sentencings, and guest speakers from the legal community.
To pass the bar exam and become a member of the Anchorage Youth Court, youth complete a class about basic legal principles and practices. The Anchorage Youth Court Bar Association meets quarterly and members participate in activities designed to provide a broader perspective of the judicial system and restorative justice. Activities include workshops, mock sentencings, and guest speakers from the legal community.
Who Benefits from AYC?
A defendant is usually a first time offender. However, AYC does accept cases that are not the defendant's first offense. The Alaska Division of Juvenile Justice refers defendants to AYC. If the defendant pleads no contest, he or she is sentenced at that time by youth judges. AYC can also hold full trials in which a defendant (1) can essentially plead not guilty (the legal terms are different for juveniles) and (2) is tried by a jury of other youth or a panel of youth judges. Upon a finding of guilt, there is no formal record if the defendant completes the sentence and does not break the law again.
At completion of the case, AYC will return its findings to the Referring Authority for final disposition. If the defendant successfully completes his or her sentence, the Referring Authority will close the case, leaving no formal indication of a criminal record on the part of the defendant. On the other hand, if the defendant fails to successfully complete a sentence or decides not to participate in AYC’s program, that information will be returned to the Referring Authority for further action. Defendants who go through AYC are less than half as likely to commit another offense as their peers who do not go through AYC.
At completion of the case, AYC will return its findings to the Referring Authority for final disposition. If the defendant successfully completes his or her sentence, the Referring Authority will close the case, leaving no formal indication of a criminal record on the part of the defendant. On the other hand, if the defendant fails to successfully complete a sentence or decides not to participate in AYC’s program, that information will be returned to the Referring Authority for further action. Defendants who go through AYC are less than half as likely to commit another offense as their peers who do not go through AYC.
AYC outside of the courtroom
Do Anchorage Youth Court members only participate in the classroom and the courtroom? No! AYC offers a variety of events and opportunities for members to get involved outside of court and in the community. Every year AYC puts on our Gavel Games fundraiser and encourage students to volunteer and participate, and we also send a few AYC representatives to the annual United Youth Courts of Alaska conference. Furthermore, this past year AYC took part in the 2018 Race Judicata, where members raced in a 5k to raise money for our organization, and a few members were selected to attend the University of Wyoming Summer Trial Institute, in which our youth were able to study trial skills and procedure with second-year law students. This summer we are also holding out summer Law and Leadership program which teacher high schoolers about the law and the legal system while helping them develop valuable skills such as public speaking, critical thinking and creative expression. Anchorage Youth Court encourages its members to be active in both the courthouse and the community in order to be an engaged and versatile citizen.