Teen courts

Teen courts are authorized by law in many states in America. Their purpose is to provide an alternative disposition for juveniles who have committed a delinquent act and are otherwise eligible for diversion.

Details

Teen courts are staffed by youth volunteers who serve in various capacities within the program, acting in the role of jurors, lawyers, bailiffs, clerks and judges. Teen courts can function in cooperation with local juvenile courts and youth detention centers, middle and high schools, and/or community organizations such as the YMCA. The terms teen court, youth court, and peer court are used interchangeably. Most teen courts are sentencing courts where the offender has already admitted guilt or pled no contest.

Teen court youth volunteers may be eligible for community service credits through their schools, or community awards such as the President's Volunteer Service Award. Adult volunteers serve as trainers, advisors and coordinators of the teen courts, though many courts do have a small paid staff. Because cases heard by teen courts are real cases, participants in teen court programs are required to sign an oath of confidentiality regarding any information which comes to their knowledge in the course of the teen court case presentation.

Many teen courts operate much like a traditional court, holding hearings before a judge and jury with the jury deliberating to determine an appropriate disposition. Some teen courts emphasize restorative justice and attempt to reintegrate the youth offender to the community while sending appropriate messages to the offender regarding unacceptable behavior. Restorative justice principles require the offender to make amends to the victim and the community and provide opportunities for victims and community members to participate in the juvenile justice process, providing valued input in decision-making.

Often punishments allotted by the court will involve the defendant making restitution to someone harmed by their actions. One of the more common sentences is community service. In many programs it is mandatory that the offender serve on a teen court jury. [http://www.alachuasheriff.org/programs/juvenille/tc/Volunteer%20Information%20Form%202007.pdf]

ee also

*Youth crime
*Youth voice
*Mike Males
*Youth justice in England and Wales

External links

* [http://www.ericdigests.org/2003-1/youth.htm Youth Courts in Law-Related Education] - from the Education Resources Information Center Clearinghouse for Social Studies/Social Science Education, Bloomington, Indiana.
* [http://www.youthcourt.net National Association of Youth Courts] - comprehensive website on youth courts (established in 2007), Baltimore, Maryland.