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Youth Court
- What is the Youth Court?
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- The Kaysville Youth Court is a voluntary juvenile diversionary program wherein high school-age youth act as judges, jurors, clerks, bailiffs, mentors, and teachers; enabling them to develop an understanding and respect for the legal process.
- The Youth Court does not determine guilt, but takes youth offenders who admit their mistakes and provides them with appropriate consequences.
- Youth who appear before the Youth Court have been identified by law enforcement personnel, school officials, the juvenile court, or any other concerned party as having committed acts which indicate a need for intervention to prevent further development toward juvenile delinquency.
- The Youth Court provides this early intervention in the form of positive peer pressure that keeps the offending youth from having a juvenile record while holding the youth accountable to both their peers and the community.
The Kaysville Youth Court has been in operation since September 2000. It was developed by concerned youth at Davis High School working in cooperation with the Kaysville City Council and Mayor's office, the Kaysville Police Department, Davis High School, Kaysville Junior High School, Fairfield Junior High School, Centennial Junior High School, and concerned citizens of Kaysville City.
The Youth Court program gives law enforcement and school officials a strong new option for handling violations. Youth offenders receive no permanent juvenile record if the program is successfully completed. Youth Court also reduces the volume of minor cases burdening the Juvenile Court, freeing it to focus on more serious offenders. Youth receive education and practical experience administering justice. The program also provides leadership and service opportunities to the youth in our community.
Youth Court Eligibility Requirements
- Must be under the age of 18
- Referred for a minor offense only; minor offenses include most class-B misdemeanors and violations of school rules, such as truancy
- Cannot have a case pending in Juvenile Court, currently be on probation with Juvenile Court, or be under the supervision of the Division of Youth Corrections
- Must admit guilt and agree to abide by the final disposition
- Must appear at the hearing with their parent or guardian
- Pay a non-refundable $3 administration fee at the time of the hearing
- Youth who have appeared before the Youth Court in the past 12 months, or who have a Juvenile Court record, may not be eligible for Youth Court
Youth Court Procedures
The Kaysville Youth Court is a voluntary program. Youth referred to the Kaysville Youth Court must first meet the eligibility requirements. If at any time during the Youth Court procedure, the youth offender and/or their parents decide to no longer participate, the case will be immediately closed and referred back to the referring agency. Likewise, the Youth Court may refer the case back to the referring agency at any time during the process for any reason whatsoever.
The Youth Court will contact the youth and the parent to schedule the hearing. Kaysville Youth Court is held on Wednesday evenings between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Kaysville Police Department, 80 North Main Street.
Once the case is heard, Youth Court will issue an appropriate sentence directly related to the offense. A contract is drawn up outlining the sentence. The youth is given a set time frame to complete the contract and then appears back in court. If the contract has been successfully completed, the case is closed.
Typical Consequences Imposed
- Community Service
- Peer Tutoring
- Peer Counseling
- Apology Letter(s)
- Essay(s)
- Provide periodic progress reports to the Youth Court
- Payment of Restitution
- Any other disposition considered appropriate by the Youth Court