October Proclaimed Global Youth Justice Month

The Shasta County Board of Supervisors has proclaimed October 2023 as Global Youth Justice Month in Shasta County!

Throughout October more than 2,000 youth court programs operating in our nation’s juvenile justice systems, schools, and community-based organizations will celebrate Global Youth Justice Month. Peer courts are youth-led and volunteer-driven diversion programs, and the Shasta County Youth Peer Court has been in operation for nineteen years. 

Youth courts are effective crime prevention and early intervention programs in the nation, offering innovative solutions to prevent juvenile crime and educate our young people. Youth courts emphasize the importance of being involved in one’s community, and they provide our nation’s youth with an opportunity to learn about government and take an active role in upholding our democratic principles. They empower youth through involvement in community solutions by developing skills in leadership, decision-making, and problem-solving; youth learn the appropriate use of peer pressure, and they are given opportunities to mentor and instill integrity in their peers; and  gain a clearer understanding of our nation’s judicial system.

Volunteers play a crucial role in making the goal of reducing juvenile crime in this country a reality, and they teach our youth about accountability and the consequences of making poor choices; they also reward responsible behavior.

The Shasta County Board of Supervisors strongly supports youth court programs because they help build healthier and safer communities in which we live, raise families, and work, and the Board commends the youth and adult volunteers who support the Shasta County Youth Peer Court.