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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 296 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 296

     Designating September 2007 as ``National Youth Court Month''.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             August 2, 2007

 Mr. Stevens (for himself, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Domenici, Mr. 
 Cochran, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Feingold, Mr. Casey, Mr. Thune, Mr. Inouye, 
 Mr. Inhofe, and Mr. Cornyn) submitted the following resolution; which 
                      was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
     Designating September 2007 as ``National Youth Court Month''.

Whereas the United States is built on strong communities in which all citizens 
        play an active role and invest in the success and future of the youth of 
        the United States;
Whereas the sixth National Youth Court Month celebrates the outstanding 
        achievements of youth court programs throughout the country;
Whereas in 2006, more than 120,000 youths volunteered to hear more than 130,000 
        juvenile cases, and more than 20,000 adults volunteered to facilitate 
        peer justice in youth court programs;
Whereas 1,210 youth court programs in 49 States and the District of Columbia 
        provide restorative justice for juvenile offenders, resulting in 
        effective crime prevention, early intervention and education for all 
        youth participants, and enhanced public safety throughout the United 
        States;
Whereas youth courts address offenses that might otherwise go unaddressed until 
        the offending behavior escalates and reduce caseloads for the juvenile 
        justice system;
Whereas youth courts redirect the efforts of juvenile offenders toward becoming 
        contributing members of their communities by holding juvenile offenders 
        accountable and reconciling victims, communities, juvenile offenders, 
        and their families;
Whereas Federal, State, and local governments, corporations, foundations, 
        service organizations, educational institutions, juvenile justice 
        agencies, and individual adults support youth court programs because 
        these programs actively promote and contribute to building successful, 
        productive lives and futures for the youth of the United States;
Whereas a fundamental correlation exists between youth service and lifelong 
        community involvement;
Whereas volunteer service and related service learning opportunities enable 
        young people to build character and develop and enhance life-skills, 
        such as responsibility, decision-making, time management, teamwork, 
        public speaking, and leadership, which prospective employers will value; 
        and
Whereas youth court programs encourage participants to become valuable members 
        of their communities: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate designates September 2007 as ``National 
Youth Court Month''.
                                 <all>
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