School-Based Youth Courts: Student Perceptions of School Climate, Safety, and Disciplinary Measures

Schools are increasingly using youth courts in place of detention and suspension, diverting students who commit school infractions from standard punishment. In this study of two New York City high school youth courts, youth court participants, teachers, and administrators expressed positive perceptions of the capacity of the youth court to serve as a meaningful alternative to the use of traditional discipline, although student surveys showed that the youth court did not have a quantifiable impact on school climate. The current study, though exploratory in nature, points to productive directions for future research.