Offering Alternatives for At-Risk and Arrested Youth

For many at-risk youths, getting arrested for the first time is no piece of cake. In fact, it’s a brief stay in jail with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. But what starts out as a frightening experience could turn into a constructive and hopeful opportunity.

That’s typically the case for first-time juvenile offenders who, after admitting to their mistakes, are diverted from juvenile court and offered a chance to sit in front of one of 27 Youth Aid Panels around the city.

Youth Aid Panels were created by the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office 20 years ago in an effort to reduce the number of cases heard in juvenile court. The idea was to offer juveniles committing misdemeanor or minor felony offenses a chance to expunge their records while still redeeming themselves through community service or restitution. On each panel are a handful of community volunteers trained by the D.A.'s office who wish to make a difference in the lives of youths who appear to be heading down dangerous paths.

“Participants get a chance to control crime one offense at a time while having a direct, immediate impact on juveniles,” says Philadelphia District Attorney Michael Cleary. “The panel is an objective proceeding where members design a contract for the juvenile to complete.”

The contracts, he says, address the needs of the victims and offender. For instance, a contract might require the offender to pay monetary restitution in the case of car theft or damage while also including required participation in an anger management class, a stint with the mural arts program or a written report on a subject of great interest to the offender.

But the magic of the youth aid panel can only begin once youths take responsibility for their actions.

“One of the biggest issues we address is admission,” says Cleary. “Once juveniles admit involvement in a crime, a large obstacle is moved out of their way. We even have a Ph.D. study indicating that when kids express what happened, a situation is created in which they become stakeholders in resolving issues and completing a contract to set things right. Once that burden is released, first-time offenders can apply themselves in constructive ways and move forward in life.”

And that’s the hope—moving forward in life. Cleary says all youth aid panels do their best to get juvenile offenders to open up about their likes and dislikes, their wishes and dreams, and will typically include an element on the contract that points youths in the direction of those dreams.

Realization and encouragement like this is much needed in the streets of Philadelphia where, says Cleary, crime involving youths has become more dramatic.

“Juveniles are getting arrested with guns nowadays and they’re taking to the streets more often,” he says. “Even first-time juvenile offenders are a lot more familiar with crime these days.”

In most cases, juveniles do complete their contracts. If they don't, however, they are routed back to juvenile court to appear before a judge and their records are not expunged. In addition, getting in trouble while completing the contract will nullify the deal.

More than 1,100 hearings each year go before youth aid panels throughout the city and only 22 percent of those kids become repeat offenders.

Training programs are offered through the Philadelphia District Attorney's office yearly. To become a volunteer, call (215) 686-4204 or (215) 686-6314.