1. NASSAU COUNTY YOUTH COURT
Madeline Singas
District Attorney

2. A photo with some of our volunteers with Nassau County DA Singas, Then Hempstead Mayor Wayne Hall, Hempstead Board of Trustee members, Judges Gianelli and Goodsell and the Nassau County Police Chief Michael McGowen,
Youth Court Volunteers Celebrate With District Attorney Madeline Singas

3. According to the National Youth Court Association
Approximately 42% of youth court programs in operation nationwide are juvenile justice system-based programs.
In New York, the majority of Youth Courts are community-based and are incorporated as, or operated by, private nonprofit organizations.
Nassau County is the only Youth Court in New York state run by its local District Attorney’s(DA’s) office.
I am very fortunate to be both a practicing ADA and the Director of our Youth Court program. Since we are in such a unique position in Nassau County, I thought I would discuss some of the benefits to having the Youth Court embedded within the DAs office and then some of the ways you may be able to get better buy-in from your local prosecutors, if you don’t have them on board already.

4. Adolescent Diversion Part
Nassau County is one of nine pilot sites in New York treating 16 and 17 year olds more like juveniles.
ADP is a collaborative effort with a team that consists of ADAs, probation, defense counsel, resource coordinators and the judge.
After arraignment, each case is conditionally released to probation and is assessed using the Youth Assessment and Screening Instrument (YASI), an objective tool that assesses risk, needs and protective factors in youth populations.
The team then reviews the facts and circumstances of the case along with the assessment and makes a determination about what type of services would best suit this defendant.
Youth Court is only one available option.

5. Unlike other Youth Courts, at the request of the District Attorney, Nassau County also:
Accepts felony cases;
Accepts repeat offenders, if they have not been through the youth Court program before;
Combines peer jury and adult judge models to best meet the needs of our community.
AR (slide)
KK (notes)
There is no codified framework for Ycs in NY, so we were able to create a program that best suits the needs of our community.
In creating a program like YC, every community must consider:
-the available resources
-the rate of juvenile crime in their community
-the outcomes that they are looking for
And the support of their community members

6. Working With Your DA
The Nassau County Youth Court is run and administered by the District Attorney’s Office. ADAs are encouraged to use Youth Court as a tool to resolve appropriate cases for Defendants under the age of 18.
Because of the support of the District Attorney, Youth Court dispositions are adopted by the Court or Probation Department and failure to comply is sanctionable.
All of the ADAs in Nassau County must attend a training to learn about the Youth Court program, the eligibility requirements and the benefits of the program.
We also have fostered great relationships with the prosecutors and probation department in FC, so we can take cases from FC as well
The judges that I appear in front of have become familiar with the program and its requirements and treat each Youth Court disposition as if it were their court imposed sentance,.

7. Working With Your DA (Cont.)
Able to screen all the criminal cases. Once our eligibility criteria is met, we can encourage the case to be sent to Youth Court.
We have access to all of the people arrested and the associated paperwork.
Ability to make court appearances and update Judge.

8. Tips From the DA’s Office
Cases with an uncooperative complaining witness;
Cases where you’re unable to contact witnesses;
Cases that may not warrant traditional prosecution;
Cases that are missing paperwork or have paperwork that contains errors or omissions.

9. PARTNERSHIP WITH HOFSTRA and TOURO LAW SCHOOLS
We have created a unique and innovative law school class at both of our local law schools to introduce students to the Youth Court process.
As a result of this one-of-a-kind partnership, law students get exposed to policy considerations and alternative programming skills.
Law students have a seminar component where they learn about juvenile justice and the elements of restorative justice.
Law students and ADAs also get the opportunity to interact with and support the community in which they learn and work.
ADAs get support without any additional expenditures.
AR (slide)
KK (notes)
In the beginning of the program we had interns and externs from the Law School at Hofstra University. When we realized the many benefits that this relationship had for the law students and the program, we formalized the partnership by creating a unique and innovative class called “Youth Court.”
We created and co-teach the class and it has been a part of the Hofstra curriculum for 4 semesters and we will be teaching it again in the school year.
Law students receive 3 credits per semester and have a seminar component where they learn about juvenile justice and the elements of restorative justice. They are exposed to policy considerations, alternative programming and get to leave the classroom and go into the community.

10. Law students mentor our high school volunteers and assist them:
Law students also get to appear in Court and assist ADAs with intakes, updates and dismissals.
Students gain interview skills meeting with respondents and their families.
Law students mentor our high school volunteers and assist them:
-during client interviews,
-drafting their questions,
-reviewing paperwork, and
-throughout the hearing.
Law students also assist in the
jury room to make sure that every
sentence is constructive,
appropriate and follows our
established guidelines.
AR (slide)
KK (notes)
The law students become very invested in the program after only one semester. When they start the program, they are always unsure since they have never seen anything like Youth Court and have been trained to think like a typical law student.
However, by mid-semester, they have completely bought in to the program and the process. They end up calling it “our program” and feel a real attachment to Youth Court and the kids involved.
Since the law students are able to come with us to District Court, they have the opportunity to meet the respondents for our initial intake, watch the go through the process, and see them in Court when there case is disposed of. They get to observe, first-hand, an incredible transformation in a short period of time.
One of their favorite parts is to moderate jury deliberations and ensure the jury complies with the sentancing guidelines.

11. Pro-socials
In addition to the disposition imposed by the jury, each respondent must participate in a pro-social activity.
Each Respondent receives a strength based assessment and is questioned on their goals, ambitions and passions.
They are then linked by the DAs office to a one-time opportunity based upon that assessment.
AR (slide)
KK (notes)
Each respondent receives a strength based assessment and is questioned on their goals, interests and passions

12. Pro-socials (Cont.)
Although the pro-social activity is a one-time event, it is hoped that it will reignite the respondents’ passions and show the possibilities the future can hold once their criminal case is over.
The goal is to turn a crisis into an opportunity.
Some respondents have earned internships or paying jobs as a result of their pro-social.
KK (slide)

13. KK
Miss Teen Long Island spends time with Youth Court respondents interested in modeling.

14. Long Island Rough Riders meet with Youth Court Respondents AR
Chris, Carlos, Ibrahem
Time check – Chris’ 16th birthday
Carlos – worst case - - just graduated HS, going to NCC. Still stops by regularly
Long Island Rough Riders meet with Youth Court Respondents
and Volunteers to play soccer.

15. Youth Court respondent interested in Aviation mechanics meets with Nassau Flyers, a local flight school and aviation services company. KK
Ended up taking flying lessons
Done a few times, always willing to help. Very supprotive

16. KK – Cooking Sur le Table
-books, food, very nice
-Drumming – guy would not let us leave until AR & KK Play. Both kids had talent and we encourae themt o move forward and persue these interests.
AR – Autoseum: Done many times. Kids love to see Batmobile and car from XXX
- always send pics
- scholarship for class
- Basketball: Coach incredibly supportive. Kids get to see college campus. Met with one All-Star player who immediately connected to these kids and explained to them how basketball can be a tool to stay out of trouble and not used to get in it. Recently, Coach couldn’t watch kids play at SUNY Westbury due to NCAA regluations, but offered to come watch them play in a summer league

17. Raise the Age
Impact on the cases heard by the DA’s office. Starting in October 2018 all misdemeanor cases committed by 16 year olds will be transferred to Family Court and in 2019 all misdemeanors committed by 17 year olds will also go to Family Court.
Continued relationship with Family Court should protect our program and the DAs willingness to focus on prevention, even though the cases are no longer within her jurisdiction.
New legislation refers to a “Youth Part”, likely to cause confusion
Looking for suggestions on new name! Suggestions welcome!!

18. Contact Info