The Youth Aid Panel promotes and encourages community participation in the process of holding youth accountable for their actions. Panel involvement helps the community better understand general areas or types of problems within its boundaries.
The panel process prevents the youth from receiving a criminal record and reduces the demand and cost on the police and the juvenile court system. Youth who complete the Youth Aid Panel program become closer connected to their community and are less likely to re-offend in the future.
The Youth Aid Panel is expeditious, providing a quicker response and resolved conclusion for the youth, the victim, and the community. Victims of offenses generally receive restitution and are provided with a means to express the harm that was caused to them by the juvenile's inappropriate actions.