Greater Gresham Area Prevention Partnership
Peer Court
Inside GGAPP's Peer Court:
ABOUT GGAPP'S PEER COURT
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GGAPP is proudly joining with police departments, schools, and the
juvenile justice departments in Gresham, Troutdale, Wood Village and
Fairview to offer a Youth Peer Court. Youth Peer Court is a diversion
program that is designed to give youth with first-time, low-level law
violations a chance to repair harm and show accountability for their
actions without involvement in the juvenile justice system. For more
information about the need for and potential benefit of a Peer Court, Click Here To Download A Presentation By The Multnomah County Juvenile Justice System
HOW PEER COURT WORKS
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When a youth is cited for a first-time low-level law violation
in Fairview, Gresham, Troutdale and Wood Village, the officer will
offer the option to enter the Peer Court instead of the juvenile
justice system. The youth must then agree to make an admission to the
law violation. Youth are required to engage a parent, guardian or other
pro-social adult in their pre-court interview and/ or Peer Court
proceeding. While in Peer Court the youth will be assigned a volunteer
student defense attorney (a peer) and a student prosecuting attorney.
Once the case is heard, the jury (also peers) decides what type of
accountability fits the law violation. The presiding judge, an adult
attorney who is licensed in Oregon, maintains order, guides the process
and oversees sentencing. Click Here To Learn Detailed Information about sentence types, court fees and fines and Accountability Assignments.
The goals of the project are to keep youth in school, support
drug/alcohol free youth, deter high-risk behavior, and provide
education about the legal system. Peer Court will operate at Fairview
City Hall two days a week. Cases range from 30-45 min. with up to three
cases occurring each day. Check our calendars for exact times, dates
and locations of trials and trainings. Future trainings and trials will
either be held at Gresham City Hall or Fairview City Hall.
Download Peer Court Brochure
GGAPP is proudly joining with police departments, schools, and the juvenile justice departments in Gresham, Troutdale, Wood Village, and Fairview to offer a Youth Peer Court. Youth Peer Court is a diversion program that is designed to give youth with first-time, low-level law violations a chance to repair harm and show accountability for their actions without involvement in the juvenile justice system. For more information about the need for and potential benefit of a Peer Court, click to download a presentation by the Multnomah County Juvenile Justice System.
Click to download the Peer Court Brochure.
RESOURCES IN SPANISH
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Resources and News
Click here to read the National Association of Youth Court's most recent newsletter.
Students:
Volunteer as a prosecutor, defense attorney, bailiff or trial clerk!
- Earn potential credit
- Be a part of something positive and exciting
- Set the stage for Senior and Service Learning Projects
- Earn letters of recommendation for college applications
- Meet new people
- Learn about the law, legal issues and concepts
- Make your community a better place for TEENS!
For More Information
Click Here To Download A Fact Sheet For Students And Parents of Student Volunteers.
Attorneys who are licensed in Oregon:
Volunteer to train students or sit as a judge!
- Train students in the law
- The ability to advertise your involvement
- Training of youth to be lawyers
- Benefit the community while networking
- Lower total cases tried in Juvenile Court and improve court efficiency
- Continuing Legal Education Credits
- Certificates
For More Information Click Here To Download The Letter For Attorneys.
Partners
Check back for more information coming soon.
