Columbia Youth Aid Panel

What is the Youth Aid Panel?

It is an alternative to the Juvenile and District Court System. The panel is made up of caring local residents from an array of backgrounds who have been trained and certified by the Lancaster County Youth Aid Panel Program.  All members of the panel are sworn and documented to provide complete confidentiality on all cases.  Panel members receive 24-30 hours of mandatory training on topics such as: the Lancaster County Court System, the role of police and their interaction with youth, interview techniques and counseling, communication skills, the impact of addictions and abuse on family systems, and disposition alternatives available for offenders. 

What are the benefits of the program?

• The panel process prevents the youth from receiving a criminal record.
• The program helps to connect youth with their community.
• Youth who complete the program are less likely to re-offend in the future.
• The Youth Aid Panel is expeditious-- Cases come before the panel more quickly than the juvenile system, providing response and resolution for the youth, the victim, and the community in a more timely manner.
• The youth/parents may choose, at anytime, to discontinue the program and hand the case over to the Juvenile Court System.
• The Youth Aid Panel provides a setting that allows community members to speak with the youth and convey their expectations, understanding, and care.  As a result, the youth understands that the concern for his/her behavior is shared by the community and thereby extends beyond the Juvenile Court System.

How does the panel process work?

When a youth commits an offense, the arresting officer determines whether the offense is eligible for youth aid.  Only first time, non-violent offenders are considered for Youth Aid.  If the officer refers the case to the Youth Aid Panel, the panel will schedule a hearing date for the youth.  Upon meeting with the panel and his parent/guardian, the youth must admit his/her guilt in the incident and explain his/her actions to the panel.  The Youth Aid Panel members then discuss the incident with the youth and his/her parents and try to gain a better understanding of what lead to the offense. 

Once discussions are complete, the panel members reach a decision on the best way to handle the case and present a contract for community service, restitution, and/or counseling referrals to the youth and parents/guardian.  If the contract is agreed upon and signed, the youth must complete the terms of the contract to obtain a clean record.

For more information on the Youth Aid Panel Program, please contact:

Officer Marc Tremblay

Columbia Police Department

(717) 684-7735