Local Service Directory

Peer Court Adult Volunteer (Advisor)

18+

Posted October 17, 2016

Adult volunteers offer support and guidance to youth volunteers during weekly court hearings- empowering youth to lead as involved stakeholders in their community. During deliberation in the courtroom adult volunteers help youth volunteers determine appropriate restorative-justice-based dispositions for the referred youth. Adult volunteers make appropriate recommendations and openly discuss the needs and the interests of the referred youth with youth volunteers. Outside of the courtroom adult volunteers monitor the ongoing peer mentoring process- ensuring that it is a positive learning experience for all. Adult volunteers keep in touch with a group of youth volunteers weekly by phone. Adult volunteers also contact the families of referred youth by phone- providing ongoing support while the requirements of the Peer Court contract are completed. Go to www.saltlakepeercourt.org/adultvolunteers for more information and to apply!

Attached document:

Opportunity through

Salt Lake Peer Court
645 South 200 East, Salt Lake City, Ut 84111
801-322-1815

saltlakepeercourt@gmail.com
www.saltlakepeercourt.org

Category: Youth
County: Salt Lake Valley

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Salt Lake Peer Court is a program of Utah Law Related Education, a 501(c)(3) organization. Salt Lake Peer Court is a court diversion program certified by the Utah Youth Court Association under the Utah Youth Court Diversion Act. Youth who have committed status offenses or class B or class C misdemeanors can be referred to Peer Court rather than sent through the traditional juvenile court system. Salt Lake Peer Court is a free and voluntary program. Youth who are successful in Peer Court do not receive a criminal record. APPLICATIONS FILLED, NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING VOLUNTEERS. EMAIL TO BE PLACED ON A WAITING LIST.
A youth referred to Salt Lake Peer Court (along with a parent/guardian) sits before a panel of high school volunteers who are trained to hear cases. The panel asks questions of the youth and parent/guardian to get a better understanding of the offense/issue as well as other concerns within the household and at school. The panel creates a disposition contract with conditions the youth and parent/guardian must fulfill. These conditions can include community service for the youth, educational opportunities, vocational training, social activities, individual/family counseling, and/or other conditions as the panel sees fit. The referred youth is paired with a peer mentor who follows-up with them by phone or in person between court hearings. An adult advisor is assigned to the case and follows-up with the parent/guardian to check on progress and answer questions. Return hearings are held to report on disposition contract progress and make changes if needed. Referred youth who are successful in Peer Court graduate. Those who are unsuccessful are closed non-compliant and the referral is sent back to the source (usually the school) for further processing.
"I personally enjoyed watching the youth work towards graduating the program. Many troubled youth were able to make small changes in their lives that allowed them to reconnect with themselves, their family, and their community." // "I got to help the community and have an impact on my peers!" // "The best part about Peer Court was watching my mentees graduate. Both of them graduated at the last day of Peer Court, so it was nice to see our efforts come to fruition in the end."