Overview of the Neighborhood Youth Panel

 The Neighborhood Youth Panel is a juvenile diversion program which gives first-time juvenile misdemeanor offenders the option of appearing before a panel of community volunteers rather than entering the juvenile court system.  A youth offender who accepts and completes the contractual obligations offered by the panel avoids the stigma and possible effects of a juvenile record, that is, he/she is 'diverted' from the Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) Intake and the juvenile court.  If the youth offender fails to fulfill his/her obligation, the youth is referred back to DJS Intake.  In addition, the panel gives the community the opportunity to be directly involved in the process of determining sanctions for youth offenders, monitoring sanction compliance and reparation to the victim.  The program supports the concept of Balance and Restorative Justice.

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