Mat-Su Youth Court, MSYC, is a juvenile offenders’ diversion program that allows minors charged with misdemeanors to go confidentially before a panel of peer judges. Instead of reporting to a state probation officer, MSYC student members sentence community work-service hours. The central focus of MSYC is restorative justice: to restore the good and repair the harm, resulting in a positive outcome for the entire community.
Since 1996, the Mat-Su Borough has fashioned a peer-led juvenile justice system from the pattern set by the model used by Anchorage Youth Court under the guidance of the Division of Juvenile Justice. Youth Court gives first-time offenders personal attention and a chance for the minor to avoid a formal criminal record. With 60 dedicated members currently active in MSYC, the Mat-Su chapter of Youth Court has received 167 referrals in 2009, 140 of which were successfully completed. Youth Court sentences consist of community work-service and an essay about the defendant’s experience and what they’ve learned through the program. This fiscal year, 3,002 community work-service hours have been completed by students sentenced in MSYC. Additionally, community work-service hours can be gained by viewing an adult arraignment, or the attendance of an anti-theft, or drug and alcohol educational class.
 Photo courtesy Mat-Su Youth Court This photo is of the most recent MSYC graduation with Magistrate David Zwink administering the attorney'€™s oath to the newly graduated youth court students. |
MSYC is a non-profit organization operating on grants from the state, the borough, and from public donations for fees and services.
“We’re providing a service for the state by addressing first-time offenses” said Wasilla probation officer Lisa Konecky on the benefits provided by the local government’s funding. “(But) due to limited staffing, we don’t have the time to organize fund-raising events.”
MSYC runs on an annual budget of approximately $250,000, about half of which comes from in-kind donations: community members donating their services and time to benefit the program. Wasilla, for example, provides office space, bookkeeping, and technological and administrative service. “We’re very lucky” said Probation Officer Carol Cross, “we have dedicated attorneys from the community that believe in the program and dedicate time as law-class instructors and legal advisers.” MSYC’s training classes occur in space donated by the Department of Corrections Training Academy in Palmer.
Despite chronic under funding, camaraderie is by no means missing from Youth Court members. Once a month the members meet to discuss and modify Youth Court policies and to hear speakers discuss different aspects of criminal law. One bar meeting offered the demonstration of a lie-detector test by Wasilla Police Investigator Joel Smith. Another meeting promises a ‘who-done-it’ activity based on gathering forensic evidence. The United Youth Courts of Alaska also offers an annual conference for active student members.
Both members and defendants benefit from the Youth Court’s peer-led system.
“Youth Court is a good program that really keeps your head on straight. Not only for the people in it, but the people going through it as well. You learn not only from your mistakes but (from the mistakes of) others as well” said MSYC member, and Colony High junior, Oreanna Powell.
As a benefit to the community, Youth Court can be of interest to minors and adults alike. Adults interested in helping a local youth court chapter can go to the official Alaska Youth Court website at www.alaskayouthcourt.org and find information about donating to the cause, or www.youthcourt.net for news on a national level.
Sophia Fouquet is a senior at Colony High School. She joined MSYC in 2004.
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