Core Values

Youth Justice Court: Getting Teens involved with Justice

Sunday, June 26, 2022

2:30pm – 3:30pm

Location: Washington Convention Center, 143A

Queens Public Library has partnered with Queens Defenders to create Youth Justice Courts (YJC) in the community. The goal of the YJC program is to provide an alternative response to youth crime in the community. Youth who commit low-level crimes are referred to YJC by local precincts, where they are represented by young people from the community. Teens who join learn about the foundations of the criminal justice system and become trained to serve as peer defense attorneys, prosecutors, and jurors. They will have a say in how their peers can be held accountable in a fair and dignified way.

Learning Objectives:

engage youth with their peers in a positive way
identify ways to empower young people to get involved with the justice system
create career opportunities for teens

Main Contact(s)

KJ

Kacper J. Jarecki

Community Library Manager
Queens Public Library

Moderator(s)

KJ

Kacper J. Jarecki

Community Library Manager
Queens Public Library

Speaker(s)

BJ

Brandon Jeffries

Youth Justice Court Manager
Youth Justice Court
Eyitami Oyarijivbie

Teen Site Coordinator
Queens Public Library
Ashley Allen

Customer Service Specialist
Queens Public Library
Kirlyn H. JOSEPH

Director of Special Projects
Queens Defenders