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North Sanpete Youth Court holds first session

ByRobert Stevens
North Sanpete Youth Court holds its first session, creating an alternative process for some non-serious juvenile offenses through peer judgment, community service and other restorative penalties. Photo courtesy North Valley Police Department.

MT. PLEASANT — North Sanpete Youth Court held its first court session.

According to North Valley Police Department, the program gives some juveniles an alternative to juvenile court for non-serious offenses. Under the program, a juvenile who admits to the offense appears before a panel of peers, who then issue a judgment. That judgment can include assignments such as essays or community service.

Once the juvenile completes the sentence, the offense is cleared from the juvenile’s record.

In a social media post celebrating the youth court, the department thanked North Sanpete High School for starting the program and recognized the volunteer judges who took part in the first session.

Youth court programs are designed to address lower-level offenses outside the traditional juvenile court process while involving students and community volunteers in accountability and restorative outcomes.