Buncombe Alternatives, Inc works with court referred and vulnerable juveniles in Buncombe and Rutherford Counties. Our organization has been in existence since 1982 and is now comprised of 2 programs, Teen Court and Earn & Learn Juvenile Restorative Community Services.

Earn & Learn Juvenile Restorative Community Service (Earn & Learn) is the only community service/restitution program in Buncombe County. This program works with youth assigned community service hours and/or victim restitution through the Division of Adult Corrections and Juvenile Justice.

Teen court is the only program in both Rutherford and Buncombe Counties that specifically receives referrals for juvenile offenders with the intent to reduce recidivism by diverting clients from the juvenile court system or out-of-school suspension. Clients are given the opportunity to take responsibility for their offense by participating in court proceedings held by trained youth & adult volunteers.

Our intent is to create positive changes in client behavior while providing space to repair harm to victims, family, and the community through educational and community service requirements.

For more information about how you can help our program, please contact Karen Peerson at (828)776-0173 or karen@buncombealternatives.org