Burton sits in as senior judge and Austin as the court clerk. Other teenagers fill up the chairs in the City Council chambers, serving as assistant judges and bailiffs.

Welcome to Layton Youth Court, where teens often get their first crack at helping their peers and young offenders get a second chance. The court is becoming a popular choice for Utah children seeking to stay out of juvenile court and avoid getting a permanent criminal record. In this court, offenders are tried by their peers and their record is only kept for one year.

There are several such courts in Utah as a result of Utah's Promise, which was set up to help communities fulfill service and volunteer opportunities. The Layton Community Action Council set up its own youth court eight years ago, training high school-age teens to teach accountability and apply positive peer pressure to youth who have committed minor offenses Ð both practices that are unavailable in other juvenile disciplinary systems.

Burton, who graduated Layton High School this year, has logged more than 500 volunteer hours in his four years as a youth court participant.

"I have enjoyed being a part of this because I've seen kids turn their lives around," he said.

Austin is one of those who turned her life around after being in youth court several years ago.

"I love helping people in youth court, especially since I've been through a similar experience," Austin said. "I've never gotten sentenced, but I know how the kids are looking at me, and my perspective helps me know how to help them."

Typical consequences the Layton Youth Court impose include community service, peer counseling and oral or written reports. Other forms of restitution are implemented if deemed necessary.

"All of the other courts in Utah think we are the harshest because we assign out the most community service," Burton said.

On other occasions, youth court decisions can be very creative.

For instance, Austin called a girl at 6:30 a.m. every morning for a month to make sure she was up and getting ready for school. The girl was having truancy issues, so Austin was able to help her out.

"I liked helping her because I knew she was up, and I would then see her at school," Austin said. "So I knew she was appreciative of my call."

On another occasion, one of her sentences included assigning a teenage boy with truancy issues to make a flyer about why school was important and why he should go to school.

"I think it worked because he didn't have trouble after that," Austin recalled.

Even if teen offenders don't like the disciplinary action the youth court dispenses, they generally comply because they know the alternative.

"Since it is voluntary for us and them, we tell them that if they don't complete the disposition they will be referred to the juvenile court," Burton said.

Another unusual aspect of youth court is that the judge does not determine guilt.

"Instead, we take youth who admit their mistakes and provide appropriate consequences to promptly hold them accountable for their actions," said Layton Youth Court Director Karen Kidman Peart.

The arresting officer can decide whether to send the offender to youth court or juvenile court. That decision often depends on the nature of the crime.

"Sometimes kids get into trouble with a crime that is not necessarily serious, but they need to pay for their crime," said Jared Criddle, a detective at Layton High School. "So youth court is good because the consequences are not as serious as juvenile court."

Criddle says most kids prefer not to go to juvenile court. He says he can tell which teens are good candidates for youth court just by talking with them.

Youth court volunteers attend extensive training to learn about the law, how to ask questions and how to read body language. Burton and Austin, who have both graduated school and have completed their court service this year, plan on continuing in youth court by volunteering as adult leaders.