NEW YORK, NY May 31, 2005 —An experiment in criminal justice grows in Brooklyn. As we reported on Morning Edition last week, the Red Hook Community Justice Center is taking a novel approach at justice.

REPORTER: In an effort to solve problems and improve the quality of life for residents the center integrates under one roof three different courts: Family, Housing and Criminal. Cases are heard by one judge and drug treatment and other services are offered. Another innovative program at the Center is aimed at steering neighborhood teenagers who get in trouble with minor offenses away from progressing to more serious crimes. It's called Youth Court.

Teens who are picked up by the police have the option of being tried by their peers judge, jurors, "lawyers" and even a bailiff all fellow teenagers. I recently paid the Youth Court a visit.

It’s about 4:30 on a Wednesday afternoon and this small courtroom at the Red Hook Community Justice Center is packed with about two dozen teens who've come together to hear the cases of fellow teenagers who were caught jumping the subway turnstile cutting school or fighting.

TEEN VOICE: Case No. 0002. Respondent's first name: Rose. Issue before the court: Truancy. Date 3-7-05. Time 11:30 a.m. Other information: Police Referral.

DIONTE GLASGO: My name is Dionte Glasgo and I'm 16 years old. I'm the bailiff. That's like the court security, you know. I keep it in order! I'm like you all gotta calm down! But, you know, we all respect each other.

REPORTER: Teens don't have to appear before the Youth Court but if they do and follow through there are benefits. Amy Roza, coordinator of the Red Hook Youth Court says it helps with the teen's offense record kept on file with the police.

ROZA: a positive is we send a letter saying that the teen completed the program to the police that referred them. That they completed the process. So instead of having this negative at the police station until they turn 18, they have this positive letter there.

REPORTER: In this case, the respondent is a young woman who was picked up by police for cutting school. Teens in the Youth Court program take a 9-week training course where they learn precision questioning, objectivity and asking unbiased questions.

JUDGE SHERI: Does the jury have any questions for Rose?

MONTAGE OF QUESTIONS: "Do you know how this affects your community?" "Do you have any sisters or brothers? Do they know what you did? How do you think this makes you look to them?" "What is the lesson learned here?" "Do you have any role models?”

CESAR: My name is Cesar, I'm the repsondent's step-father. Somewhere along the line she's going to have to learn a lesson, either from us, or from the city or the state. She might look at it like it's a joke, but if she gets a punishment, meaning community service or something like that, I think she'll get a wake-up call to the real seriousness about it. And if she don't, I guess it'll be the next level. And I don't think she'll like that (laughs).

SHERI: (Gavel) "Court is back in session. Has the jury determined a sanction?

FOREMAN: We the jury feel that Rose deserves one session of RHYTHM.

REPORTER: RHYTHM is a counseling program designed to educate teens about peer pressure and substance abuse. Other common sanctions include writing an essay about how their offense has affected the community and performing community service. Nine out of 10 teens complete the sanctions given to them.

14-year old Richard travels from Park Slope to work with the Youth Court.

RICHARD: I think it really helps out teenagers on the borderline. Like it gets them back on track so like if they're going to do another thing, another offense, they'll think twice before doing it,. Because i think they'll learn their lesson from the sanctions that we give them.

REPORTER: Coordinator Amy Roza says the program helps both the kids who appear before the youth court and those who do the court's work.

ROZA: It's a chance to over and over again think about the decisions your peers are making in the community. and then think about ways that the teens themselves have control over the situations. What are the standards you want in the community? How can you and your friends, you and the other kids you go to school with, affect making the community what you want it to be.

ALEXIS: I think ours is better than the justice system.

REPORTER: Alexis is one of the court's longest-serving members. Before the Red Hook Community Justice Center was set up in a former parochial school, she remembers playing in the abandoned building's halls and rooms with her friends.

ALEXIS: We stop them // before they do something serious, like murder and stuff like that, the felonies, the robberies and stuff like that.

REPORTER: Alexis is now 17 and a half and plans to use her experience with the court to go the college and then become a corrections officer. Red Hook's Youth Court was the first to open in the city seven years ago. Four others have since opened around the city, and are following similar programs.