About us

Ketchikan Youth Court started in 2000 as a nonprofit in the community. Local attorneys, nonprofits, district court judges, police officers, and probation officers came together to build a juvenile justice model that worked for the community. Ketchikan Youth Court was formed under Alaska State Statute (AK § 47.12.400) which sets guidelines on how youth court’s can function within the state. KYC uses the juvenile justice model which emphasizes “restorative justice” focused on less punitive legal measures including: community work service, restitution, and substance abuse classes.

 

The restorative justice model incorporates peer-to-peer judgement which allows the juvenile to be tried and sentenced by their peers. KYC allows juveniles ages 11-17, who are first time offenders, and have committed a misdemeanor crime, to be referred to our program. Once the juveniles complete our program the criminal charge is dismissed or expunged from their record. KYC is completely youth ran, operating on a model of youth members working in the court room as judges and attorneys, volunteering at community events, and ultimately giving back to the community.