[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 20]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 28003]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



YOUTH COURT: CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND CHARACTER EDUCATION THROUGH JUVENILE 
                             ACCOUNTABILITY

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                         HON. J. DENNIS HASTERT

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 20, 2001

  Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to praise the efforts of the 
Constitutional Rights Foundation and the Constitutional Rights 
Foundation Chicago. Their work encourages schools, youth programs, 
attorneys, judges, and police departments to work together to form and 
expand diversionary programs.
  These programs, known as Youth Courts, are where juveniles, under the 
supervision of representatives from the education and legal 
communities, determine sentencing for first time Juvenile offenders who 
are charged with misdemeanors or minor infractions of school rules.
  The program displays that as a sentencing option, community service 
can serve both the offender and the community.

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