Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use class time for the Youth for Justice project?

No! Youth for Justice is designed to be compatible with the classroom setting, and we encourage advisors to involve as many students as possible. However, it is not necessary to conduct the program in the classroom. Many teams meet after school or on weekends and conduct their project completely outside of the classroom. OCLRE has tried to provide a program that is flexible enough to be implemented in any way that is convenient for you.

Isn’t this just another program for the "best" students?

No! Youth for Justice is for ALL middle school students. In fact, the students who report the greatest positive impact from the Youth for Justice experience are "at-risk" and other youth that tend to be "left out" of traditional programs geared toward high academic achievers.

Do I need to be affiliated with a school to start a Youth for Justice team?

No! Probation officers and non-profit youth services organizations have started Youth for Justice teams. Although most of the teams are school based, you may start a team as long as you can put together a team of youth in middle school grades. You will have the same access to resources and information as other Youth for Justice advisors.

The project is for students in the middle grades (4-9). Does that mean that all of those grade levels have to be represented?

No! Teams may be formed from a single grade level, all grade levels, or any combination of grade levels. The important thing is that the team composition reflects what your organization is trying to accomplish locally with this program.

Our school is beginning a conflict management project. Can this be incorporated into our Youth for Justice project?

Yes! A conflict management project is a wonderful kind of project for Youth for Justice. We define violence prevention very broadly. We are happy for teams to focus on problems that may be a couple of steps removed from the actual violence. The most popular topic for Youth for Justice teams are projects that promote respect in the school or community. Many teams have implemented peer mediation programs as part of their action plans.

How do I get involved?

It’s easy and there are a variety of methods!

Become an advisor. Start by assembling a team of young people who want to do something about violence in their community. Contact OCLRE for valuable materials to help you tackle tough violence-related problems in your community.

Volunteer your time to a local Youth for Justice team. Contact OCLRE for a referral to a team(s) near you. Local teams are always looking for willing volunteers to help them in their work.

Volunteer to work the State Youth for Justice Summit. Meet and visit with teams from across Ohio at the annual Youth for Justice Summit held in the Spring at the Riffe Center in Columbus, Ohio. Learn what teens have to say about violence in their communities, and what they want to do about it. We are looking for youth professionals, law enforcement personnel, political figures, educators, and other interested community members to review recommendations with the youth at the Spring Summit. The Youth for Justice Summit is meant to be a forum for youth to communicate with community leaders and receive important feedback for their goals and recommendations.