The high rates of juveniles involved in criminal activities in Jackson County create an increased risk factor associated with violent behaviors and alcohol and drug use for teens. The Independence Youth Court (IYC) exists to hold juvenile offenders accountable for delinquent behaviors; to provide positive peer-led restorative justice, which promotes leadership and positive youth behavior; to increase juvenile offenders knowledge and enhance refusal skills to avoid criminal behavior, including drug use and violent activities; and to reduce repeated criminal behavior and involvement in the juvenile criminal justice system. 

The Independence Youth Court is a juvenile prevention peer court, which provides immediate sanctions for juvenile offenders. The court meets the requirements of an evidence-based program and has been recognized nationally by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) and Global Youth Justice as a nationally accepted juvenile prevention program. 

IYC was established in 1985 and is the oldest continuously operating peer court in Missouri and one of the oldest youth 
diversion courts in the United States. 

The National Association of Youth Courts and Global Youth Justice organizations recognize the value of Youth/Peer Courts as a successful prevention diversion promoting restorative justice for youths as an alternative to the traditional juvenile justice system. Peer Court adjudications are conducted bi-monthly by trained youth volunteers (ages 13 to 19), under adult supervision, in the Independence Municipal Courtroom. The criminal cases for juveniles 7 to 17 (target population) are referred to Youth Court by the Independence Police Department. The municipal and/or county ordinance violation cases include both delinquent offenses (such as alcohol possession, assault, disorderly conduct, drugs, stealing and vandalism) and status offenses (such as beyond parental control, curfew and truancy). 

All court sanctions follow the National Youth Court Guidelines for restorative justice and prevention education. Victims of personal crimes are given the opportunity to provide a victim impact statement to the court prior to court adjudication and sentence. 

The court sanctions at Youth Court require the juveniles to participate in community service at ongoing times and locations all year at non-profit organizations in Jackson County (such as Community Service League and Fairmount Community Center) to show accountablity for their actions. The juvenile offenders must also attend one or more of the monthly or bi-monthly educational programs—most are provided by COMBAT funding—which include Advanced Alcohol and Drug Intervention; Anger Management 1; Anger Management 2 and Decision Making; Fire Prevention; Safe Streets and Crime Prevention; Shoplifting 
Diversion; Tobacco/Vape Resistance; Truancy Prevention and the new 2019 Community Arts and Life Skills (in collaboration with Ezekiel's Project of Lee's Summit Missional Church).

COMBAT Funding: $87,000.00