Are Youth Courts Beneficial for Young Offenders? One of the fastest growing juvenile treatment and intervention programs is known as juvenile courts. Youth courts provide alternative justice for young offenders. Non-violent offenders, mostly first-time offenders, are sentenced by their peers in youth courts. Youth courts also serve as juvenile justice diversion programs. Youth courts vary from state to state, and sometimes within the same state. With this program, all parties in the legal community are minors except the judge. Each teen court is designed specifically to meet the needs of the community it serves. Youth courts were created to re-educate offenders through the legal process, create a sanctions program that will allow young people to not have a criminal record and also instill in them a sense of responsibility. The modern concept of youth courts began in the early 1970s when a small number of local communities in America began to establish the first global youth justice programs (Peterson, p. 2). In 1994, there were 78 youth court programs. As of March 2010, more than 1,050 youth justice programs were operating in 49 states and the District of Columbia. Youth courts serve as a “diversion” program used to divert first-time offenders from a life of criminal activity. The primary function of most youth justice programs is to determine a fair and restorative sentence or decision for the young respondent. Although the primary function of youth courts is to rehabilitate offenders, some may question whether youth courts actually benefit young offenders. One of the main determining factors in the usefulness of youth courts is recidivism. According to Butts and Ort... middle of article ......l behavior when educating youth, and youth are more likely to respond positively when taught by other youth (Strobel, p.1 ).In conclusion, youth courts are beneficial for young offenders. Jurisdictions across the country use youth courts as an alternative to the traditional juvenile justice system for their youngest and least serious offenders (Wilson, p. 15). Youth courts have been reported to increase young offenders' respect for the justice system and reduce recidivism by holding them accountable from their first offense (Wilson, p. 15). Youth courts are able to act more quickly and efficiently than a traditional juvenile court (Wilson, p. 15). Youth courts teach peer justice, procedural justice, communication skills, deterrence skills development and, most importantly, provide a safe environment for youth rehabilitation..