County's youth court to hold monthly Anderson sessions

With six court dates held last year in Anderson, the Shasta County Youth/Peer Court will be held monthly during the current school year beginning Sept. 23 at the Anderson City Council Chambers.

On Sept. 10, a training will be held for youth ages 12-18 who are interested in volunteering with the Shasta Co. Youth/Peer Court to become jurors, jury fore-persons, court clerks, and attorneys.

Another training will be held Nov. 5. Training will be held on the 2nd floor of the US Bank building at 1700 Pine St. - enter through the back entrance of the building and take an elevator to 2nd floor. To reserve a seat for the training, please call the Youth Violence Prevention Council Office at 244-7194.

To celebrate National Youth Court Month and the beginning of its 7th year of operation, the Shasta County Youth/Peer Court will be holding an Open House on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009 from 6-8:30 p.m. at the U.S. District Courthouse. The court is located at 2986 Bechelli Ln. (corner of Hartnell and Bechelli, 3rd floor).

The Shasta County Youth Peer Court is a program of the Youth Violence Prevention Council and is a diversion program designed to keep youth out of the juvenile justice system.

Our local youth court has enlisted over 250 volunteer youth to keep over 600 youth out of juvenile justice system. Using a restorative justice model, youth courts hold youth accountable for their offenses as well as assigning sentences that build skills and change attitudes; achieving 50 percent lower recidivism rates and making our communities safer for all citizens.

The public is invited to come observe the first attorney trials for the 2009-2010 school/court year. We ask that you be seated by 5:50 p.m. since court will begin at 6 p.m. and run until about 8 p.m. There will be two youth attorney trials that evening. For more information, contact 244-7194.