For the first time in two years, an important program in Kansas City's juvenile justice system is restarting.The first youth court graduation was held Monday at the University of Missouri-Kansas City's law school since the pandemic began.Youth court is one of several diversion programs. The goal is to help teens who have committed minor offenses to have their cases heard in youth court rather than going before the Jackson County Family Court. It also gives young people who want to become attorneys the experience while they're in high school.Fifteen teens were sworn in to serve as attorneys in Kansas City Youth Court. The teens will defend, prosecute and judge peers who have committed real crimes."You're finally part of the whole thing, and you finally get to help people and so I'm really excited about that,” said Dani Haley, a student attorney with Kansas City Youth Court.Haley is one of the graduates whose group will process 10 cases a month."They can understand, they can relate to, and they feel truly understands what they are going through as opposed to an adult who may they may not listen to,” said Jefferson Wolfe, assistant director of Kansas City Youth Court.It's one of several diversion programs to keep teens out of trouble and give them a second chance. The peer sentences range from apologies, essays and required educational or community service."By going through a peer process, we can rehabilitate and hopefully make them better members of the community,” said Dan Berry, of Kansas City Youth Court."It is huge. You want to get children early before they become invested in a system of criminal activity,” said Kansas City police Maj. Dan Haley.The youth attorneys serve until they graduate high school, where many pursue the profession as adults."Within the first few hours of the first training session, it had firmed that up for me that I wanted to be a lawyer,” said Cayla Kratofil, attorney for the Law Office of Maggie L. Anderson.The program is funded by Jackson County COMBAT tax dollars.The juvenile cases and youth attorneys come from Kansas City. The next enrollment is this fall. The program takes teens 13 to 18 years old who meet the application requirements.