PEER COURT
DIVERSION PROGRAMS

PEER COURT Diversion Programs are the most replicated Juvenile Justice Program in America by a 10:1 Margin, that is further widening, as Local Communities, and many States continue establishing these Youth-Led and Volunteer-Driven Diversion Programs.  They are the most replicated Essential Youth Service Program, and one is hard pressed to find another Civic Engagement, and Inclusive Democracy Program, that is so widely replicated as PEER COURT. 

For 30 Years, since record keeping began in 1993, they have scaled locally, proven to be affordable, sustainable, and garnered considerable support, from youth and adults.

PEER COURT Diversion Programs are 100% Public Domain, and there are no copyright, trademark, dues, or fees, to establish and operate these Diversion Program.  And, everything on the Global Youth Justice, Inc. Website is Public Domain, including FREE LOGOS and much more.

PEER COURT Diversion Programs are a Localized Youth-Led and Volunteer-Driven Diversion Program, for minors typically under age 18, in Juvenile Justice and Youth Justice Systems, and in Schools.  In 1993, when record keeping first began in America, there were fewer than fifty (50) of these PEER COURT Diversion Programs.

In 2023, there are a Record 2100+ Communities, Tribes, and Schools, in 48 USA States and 12 Countries, with PEER COURT Diversion Programs, and about 100 have now been established outside America, with Germany and the Netherlands having the most.

PEER COURT Diversion Programs are also called Youth Court, Peer Court, Student Court, Peer Jury, Youth Peer Court, and Youth Panels.  Uniquely American, PEER COURT Diversion Programs are a text-book example of a Local grass-roots movement that has grown into a Global Youth Justice Movement over the past 30 years (1993 to 2023).  PEER COURT are now 10x’s more replicated than any Juvenile Justice Program in America, and likely also the most utilized School Disciplinary Program in America.

Never funded directly the U.S. Federal Government, the historic growth of these unique peer to peer diversion programs has been almost entirely local, and PEER COURT Diversion Programs have not stopped spreading locally for 30 years, and for the past ten (10) years, PEER COURT Diversion Program have started spreading to other countries, primarily Democracies.

Because PEER COURT Diversion programs are volunteer-driven, they are affordable, sustainable, and textbook inclusive democracy, as is demonstrated by their ability to be established and maintained in every community.  And, adults and youth alike, find them fair, as if implemented properly, they provide a measured response that is not off the hook, and not deep involvement in the justice system. 

In PEER COURT Diversion Programs, volunteer youth, to include former defendants, and youth working off their peer-imposed community service hours assigned in PEER COURT, see their role as helping their Peers in Trouble, and not punishing them, but rather giving them a consequence that is measured, such as community service hours within a range determined by adult community leaders, classes on laws and consequences, and jury duty on subsequent cases. 

PEER COURT Diversion Programs allow youth who have committed a second low level crime, offense, or misdemeanor to be referred to the YOUTH COURT Diversion Program a second time.  Support among and between youth and youth people, is evident, as if it were not, these volunteer-driven PEER COURT Diversion Programs would not be able to operate without Volunteers. 

Completion rates of PEER COURT Diversion Program Requirements is very high, and research and data collection has been positive, recidivism is hard to track for minors in any program.  And, there is general consensus that PEER COURT Diversion Programs, are not harmful, and they often service the primary purpose of the community, to make every effort not to entrench youth and young people in the justice system as minors, and ultimately Adults.

Many believe if negative peer pressure is a primary factor in leading some youth to commit a crime, offense and/or violation, then positive peer pressure can be harnessed and redirected to become a positive force and lead other youth to adhere to the rule of law and become more productive citizens. These PEER COURT Diversion Program harness positive peer pressure and utilize it in a peer judgment setting to help address the anti-social, delinquent, and/or criminal behavior of youth. 

In PEER COURT the ‘peer judgment’ and ‘positive peer pressure’ aspects of these rapidly expanding youth-led and volunteer-driven programs are the two (2) primary programmatic elements which separate these PEER COURT Diversion Programs, also called Peer Court, Student Court, Peer Jury and Youth Peer Court, from all of the other Diversion and Discipline Programs.