The Rural Justice Institute is working with the Allegany County Sheriff Department, Probation Department, and the Youth Bureau to develop and expand the county’s Youth Court.  The Youth Court functions as an intervention program for troubled youth whose cases, rather than being referred to the family court system, are adjudicated by a panel of trained peers.  The Youth Court currently has 75 Youth Court Volunteers (from every school in Allegany County).  These volunteers have received at least 20 hours of training from a variety of local professionals (i.e. the Allegany County District Attorney, the Assistant DA, the Director of Probation, the Allegany County Sheriff, NYS troopers, local judges, alcohol and substance abuse counselors, Alfred University professors, and the Director of Stop DWI).  In addition to other sentences, defendants have performed many hours of community service.  These community service projects are supervised by Sienna Markel, the Director of the Youth Court, as well as by the Youth Court Volunteers.  Student Youth Court members meet monthly as does the Youth Court Advisory Board.