Youth-Led Justice

Youth-LED Justice (previously called Maine Youth Court) is a youth-led restorative justice program that works with young people who are in trouble with the law, school, or community to be diverted and supported. We work with youth volunteers to help facilitate a cirlce process that brings affected parties together for healing and repair. The Youth-LED Justice diverts youth respondents away from punitive outcomes, supports them through a restorative justice process, and ensures they have the support necessary in order to repair harm done to relationships, increase skills, knowledge and resources, increase connection to community and build on and build up strengths. Our work is available for youth who are facing a civil or criminal charge, or a shcool disciplinary or other community infraction. In our work this young person is called a respondent. We primarily serve youth from the following counties: Cumberland, Androscoggin, and Sagadahoc. At the heart of our program is a belief in youth leadership. We train youth to serve as advocates and facilitators of restorative processes, and turn to respondents, youth volunteers, and youth board members to inform and guide our evolving programming.