POUGHKEEPSIE – Dutchess County Legislator Craig Brendli has proposed creation of a county youth court similar to ones in Putnam and Ulster counties.
The court, part of the family court system, would give first-time misdemeanor offenders under the age of 16 a second chance, Brendli said.
“They would go through a traditional trial except people their age would be in all the roles and what would happen is once that is done they would be sentenced to community service and/or a letter of apology,” he said.
Brendli said a youth court is a legally recognized court in New York that provides restorative justice and a second chance to first-time, misdemeanor youth offenders.
The proposal will come before the county legislature next month.
