Cass County Youth Court
*Application for Youth Court are now open. Applications are due by September 18, 2026. Please complete the Youth Court Application and Youth Court Recommendation forms and return them to the Cass County Juvenile Office.
What is Youth Court?
An early intervention diversion program offering reduced reoffending, improved mental health outcomes, and positive impacts on family & community relationships. This peer-led court setting where juvenile offenders are tried, defended, judged, and either convicted or exonerated by a court of their peers. This program allows juveniles with minor offenses to avoid entering the juvenile justice system.
Youth Court Referrals
A referral to youth court is typically made by law enforcement officers or school administrators when a juvenile is believed to have violated the law. These referrals are then received by the Juvenile Office, where they are carefully reviewed by Juvenile Office staff to determine the severity and circumstances of the incident. The staff assesses whether the case meets the criteria for Youth Court, which is designed to handle certain minor offenses in a more rehabilitative and educational manner. Once a referral is found appropriate for Youth Court, it is sent to the Youth Court Coordinator for further action and processing.
The juvenile offender's parent or guardian will receive a phone call from one of our dedicated juvenile office staff members. During this call, the staff member will inform the parent or guardian about the nature of the referral, explain why the case is being directed to Youth Court, and answer any initial questions the family may have. This step is important to ensure that parents or guardians are fully aware of the situation and understand the next steps in the process.
The juvenile offender will be assigned a juvenile defense attorney who will work with the juvenile during the youth court proceedings. This juvenile attorney goes through training and has a licensed attorney assisting them with the case. The juvenile defense attorney will advise the juvenile of the possible outcomes or sanctions that could be put in place.
Want to Join Youth Court?
Youth Court is available to youth grades 7-12 who are looking to build leadership skills. This program allows you to gain knowledge and skills of the Legal System & the roles. Youth will participate in all parts of the criminal justice system including Judge, Prosecutor, Defense Attorney, Bailiff, and Court Clerk. Application can be submitted year-round.
To submit an application please follow the below steps. You will have two forms to complete one by you and another by a teacher, unrelated adult, or counselor for a recommendation to Youth Court.
Instructions
Do not fill out this application inside your internet browser (Chrome, Edge, Safari, etc.). Browser preview tabs block the interactive features, and your Submit button will not work. You must follow the steps below to successfully turn in your application.
How to Submit Your Application:
- 1. Download the Form
Click the Download Youth Court Application or Download Youth Court Recommendation button below to save the PDF file directly to your computer or mobile device. - 2. Open in Adobe Acrobat
Locate the downloaded file in your computer’s Downloads folder. Right-click the file, select Open With, and choose the free Adobe Acrobat Reader application. - 3. Complete the Fields
Fill out all required text boxes carefully. When you reach the signature line, simply type your full legal name into the signature text field. - 4. Click Submit
Once the form is complete, click the red Submit Application button at the very bottom of the last page. - 5. Send the Email
Adobe will automatically open your default email application (like Outlook or Mail) and attach your completed PDF to a pre-addressed draft. You just need to click Send on that email to finish the process.
Alternative Submission Options
U.S. Mail- Cass County Juvenile Office, ATTN: Youth Court, 2501 Mechanic St, Suite 200, Harrisonville, MO 64701
Fax- (816) 380-8490
Scan and Email- CassCoYouthCourt@courts.mo.gov
Youth Court Training - 2026
Training for Youth Court is done with the assistance of attorneys, Judges, and Juvenile Office Staff. Juveniles wishing to participate in Youth Court as a Judge, Prosecutor, Defense Attorney, Bailiff, or Court Clerk must attend the following training dates and exams.
October 5, 2026, 6-8:30 PM
October 13, 2026, 6-8:30 PM
October 19, 2026, 6-8:30 PM
November 2, 2026, Bar Review 6-7 PM
November 5, 2026, Bar Exam 6PM
November 10, 2026, Swearing in Ceremony
Youth Court is held on the First Tuesday of every month.
Want More Information
Contact the Cass County Youth Court at 816-380-8475 or email us at CassCoYouthCourt@courts.mo.gov