Lower Merion Youth Aid Panel Gets New Members With Lots Of Experience

Lower Merion's Youth Aid Panel (YAP) has two new members who are bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to the restorative program for young, non-violent offenders.

Joanna Goldstein and Briane Peters have joined YAP and will use their social work and case worker experience, respectively, to help youngsters get back on the right track.

According to Maine Line Media News, Goldstein has been working with children and families in her role as a social worker for more than 20 years.

Peters has worked as a case manager for at-risk youth and adult offenders, as well as with prison systems and transition housing to help reform offenders.

The Youth Aid Panel program is the Montgomery County District Attorney’s community-based restorative justice program for juvenile offenders who commit non-violent criminal offenses.

Juveniles who commit first-time criminal offenses meet with the panel to discuss their involvement with the police department.

The Youth Aid Panel is tasked with developing a resolution that provides consequences for the juvenile’s actions and thought-provoking assignments that empower them to make better decisions in the future. If the juvenile successfully completes the program, they do not receive a criminal record for the incident.

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