Superior Court seeks youth volunteers

Originally published Aug. 18, 2011
The Superior Court of New Jersey, Monmouth Vicinage, seeks youth volunteers from Monmouth County between the ages of 14 and 18 to serve on one of 36 Juvenile Conference Committees (JCC). Young people play a valuable role in the juvenile justice process as volunteers on these committees, which act as a community-based arm of the family court.
The committees meet monthly for approximately two hours in Monmouth County municipalities. A committee is composed of six to nine citizen volunteers appointed by a family division judge to hear and decide matters involving juvenile offenses.
The juvenile, parent(s), or guardian(s) and complainant are invited to discuss the offense and related matters with the committee in a confidential setting. After considering the information presented, the committee makes recommendations to the judge for a resolution that fosters the juvenile’s rehabilitation.
Trial Court Administrator Marsi L. Perkins said, “The Monmouth Vicinage Juvenile Conference Committees help to bring the court and the community together to improve the lives of juveniles. We appreciate the efforts of all committee volunteers and value the perspectives offered by youth volunteers.”
Parental consent is required for all youth volunteers under the age of 18. All applicants are subject to a juvenile record check. Mandatory training provided by the Monmouth Vicinage must be completed prior to volunteer service. Youth volunteers could be eligible for community service credit hours based upon approval from their high school.
For more information about the program and application process in Monmouth County, contact Colette Schroeder, team leader for the juvenile team at 732-677-4087 or at Colette.Schroeder@judiciary.state.nj.us or by regular mail at the Monmouth Vicinage, 71 Monument Park, Freehold, NJ 07728.