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City of Aurora Youth Court

What is Youth Court?

The City of Aurora Youth Court is designed for youth who have committed first time offenses such as shoplifting, curfew violations, alcohol use, causing disturbances, and other misdemeanors. Youth Court allows an opportunity to complete alternative sentencing and diversion from traditional court and keep a conviction from being permanently entered on the youth respondent’s record.

Based on Restorative Justice, the youth and their parents/guardians appear before the youth court jury. The youth court jury hears the case, deliberates on sentencing options, and then sentence the youth respondent.

The sentencing requires the youth respondent to schedule meetings with: Three Fires Council on gaining better decision making skills and making wiser choices; Aurora Police Department Social Work to explore supportive counseling; and Youth and Senior Services for optional sentencing activities. The youth respondent will be involved a total of 10-13 hours from the time of sentencing to completion in the span of one month.

What are the Requirements?

1. Must be referred by the Aurora Police Department.**
2. Appear before the youth court jury and explain your case.**
3. Attend presentations by Three Fires Council on three consecutive Wednesdays (6:30pm to 8:30pm).*
4. Complete assigned community service through Three Fires Council. This will be supervised by at least 2 adults for 2 hours on the 3rd Saturday of meeting with Three Fires Council.*
5. Graduation from the Three Fires Council program.**
6. Schedule and complete at least two counseling sessions with Aurora Police Department Social Work services.*
7. Meet with Youth and Senior Services staff once from as little as 1 hour on up to 3 hours, to receive facilitation in optional sentencing educational activities.*
8. Return & appear before youth court jury with all sentencing requirements complete.**

**Parents/Guardians required to attend with youth respondents.
*Parents/Guardians may be asked to participate.

Want to be a Youth Court Peer Juror?

You must be a high school student (grades 9th-12th) in good standing at your school. Please download the application, completely fill it out and have it signed by your parents/guardians, and either drop it off at 501 College Ave, Suite 304, Aurora, IL 60505 or mail it to the City of Aurora Youth and Senior Services, 44 East Downer Place, Aurora, IL 60505. The youth court jury is in session monthly on the 3rd Tuesday & Thursday.

More Information

Need more information? Contact Alfred Morales at (630) 256-3403 or via email at amorales@aurora-il.org; or Ken Maurice at (630) 256-3402 or via email at kmaurice@aurora-il.org.