About Peer Court
About
Salt Lake Peer Court is a program of Utah Law Related Education, a 501(c)(3) organization. Salt Lake Peer Court is a court diversion program certified by the Utah Youth Court Association under the Utah Youth Court Diversion Act.
Youth who have committed minor offenses at school or in the community can be referred to Peer Court rather than to the traditional juvenile court system. Salt Lake Peer Court is a free and voluntary program. Youth who are successful in Peer Court do not receive a criminal record for the offense.
A youth referred to Salt Lake Peer Court (along with a parent/guardian) sits before a panel of high school volunteers who are trained to hear cases. The panel asks questions of the youth and parent/guardian to get a better understanding of the offense/issue as well as other concerns within the household and at school. The panel creates a disposition contract with conditions the youth and parent/guardian must fulfill. These conditions can include community service for the youth, educational opportunities, vocational training, social activities, individual/family counseling, and/or other conditions as the panel sees fit. The referred youth is paired with a peer mentor who follows-up with them by phone or in person between court hearings. Return hearings are held to report on disposition contract progress and make changes if needed. Referred youth who are successful in Peer Court graduate from the program. Those who are unsuccessful are closed non-compliant and the referral is sent back to the source (usually the school) for further processing.
Mission and Vision
Working to combat the disproportionate involvement of marginalized youth in the juvenile justice system by providing all youth who commit minor offenses an alternative opportunity to be held accountable for their actions.
As youth and adults working together, caring and showing respect for one another, we will improve our neighborhoods, cities, and juvenile justice system. Through youth-led education and coordination with local community agencies, we will assist our peers and their families to strengthen their ties to school and community while building positive new skills. Our strategy aims to break the cycle of poverty by giving all youth a chance to avoid a lifetime in the revolving door of America’s justice system.
History
Salt Lake Peer Court began in the spring of 1993 as a collaboration between West High School and members of the Capitol Hill Community Council with critical support from the Salt Lake City Mayor’s Office and the Salt Lake City Police Department. Pam Richardson Card, Capitol Hill Community Council Chairperson, spearheaded the new and innovative program. Pam and West High School Assistant Principal Teresa Piele hand-picked a group of student volunteers to give the program a strong start. Kathleen Zeitlin, who had formally worked as both a high school teacher and a juvenile probation officer, came on board as a volunteer.
Tragedy struck at the end of the first year when Pam Richardson Card suddenly passed away. A small group of adult volunteers (which included Kathleen Zeitlin, Kathy Hunt, Robin Webb, Marlu Gurr, and Hazel Horsfield) decided that Peer Court had to continue. For the next two years the volunteers worked together to continue Pam’s vision.
In 1996, Peer Court received its first large grant- from the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice. The program expanded city-wide and came under the umbrella of Utah Law Related Education, a 501(c)(3) organization. Kathleen Zeitlin took on the role of Program Director; a position she would hold for 17 years.
Salt Lake Peer Court continues to be a key organization in our community- serving hundreds of youth and their families annually. Salt Lake Peer Court is currently funded by a variety of sources including: Salt Lake City School District, Salt Lake City Police Department, George and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, Marriner S. Eccles Foundation, R. Harold Burton Foundation, Utah Bar Foundation and Utah State Bar.