Stoneleigh Fellow Gregory Volz talks about the development of youth courts in the City of Chester, Pennsylvania, and how they are an effective alternative to the traditional school disciplinary system, which often pushes students out of school. Youth courts, he asserts, reduce the number of youth in the juvenile justice system and foster youth development and academic achievement. Youth Courts use corrective dispositions to help offenders better understand the consequences of their actions, and keep them in school.
As he establishes school-based youth courts in the Chester-Upland School District, Gregg is also developing a statewide movement to bring these courts to all parts of the Commonwealth.
