Youth Aid Panel- Volunteer

Overview

Through non-traditional diversion, the DAO’s Juvenile Unit holds youth accountable, increases community safety and facilitates behavior change. A variety of community-based partners allows for developmentally appropriate diversion programming to provide diverted youth with case management, additional supports and services, including, but not limited to: housing support, employment assistance, child care aid, clothing needs, life skills training, transportation assistance, vital document support, and food aid.

Youth Aid Panel Track offer a compelling community-based alternative to prosecution for juveniles who are charged with misdemeanors and low-level felonies. Rather than entering the juvenile justice system, a young person in diversion appears before the panel, which involves their family members. When victims and witnesses are willing, they can also take part in the panel.

Panel deliberations, which require the young person’s participation, focus on what successful accountability and rehabilitation looks like during and after the program. These collaborative discussions are used to form, for the young person, a contract set for 60-90 days that generally identifies a lead monitor and includes some form of after school activities, counseling and community service. Once, the young person completes their diversion contract, their case is discharged and eligible for expungement.

Our trained volunteer corps of panelists include but not limited to caring adults who are concerned about youth crime and understand the power of mentorship.

Volunteers will be responsible to participate in a 5-10-hour initial training program and 2 hours of yearly follow up training.

Then commit to 2-5 hours each month moving forward.

We need new panelist between the age of 25-45; especially individuals who identify as male gender and Spanish speaking individuals