Youth Offenders Program
The Youthful Offender Program is designed for young adults ages 18 through 25. Its focus is on pre-trial, first-time felony offenders who have been assessed by their home county as potentially able to benefit from a second chance and thus avoid the burden of a felony charge on their record.
A Wilderness Challenge for Young Adults
Participants must be afforded the opportunity by their referring county and, in turn, must accept it. The youthful offenders thus agree to embark on a 30-day journey of challenging hikes, living in the wilderness, learning to survive in the outdoors, and integrating a new approach to life designed to make them productive, law-abiding members of society.
Following completion of the 30-day program, participants return to their county to face charges. If they have done well in the program, the court will typically reduce felonies to lower offenses—or eliminate the charges altogether.
The Youthful Offender Program currently serves Bucks County, but plans are being developed to expand this effective and cost-efficient program to additional jurisdictions.
