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Background Teen courts are spreading rapidly across the United States. Many people view them as a cost-effective alternative to traditional juvenile court for some young offenders. Until recently, relatively little information has been available about how teen courts operate or how they affect youthful offenders. This Bulletin presents the results of a national survey of teen courts. The findings suggest that most teen courts are relatively small and were established very recently. The findings also suggest that the most established teen court programs (i.e., programs reporting longevity in operations and/or little financial uncertainty) may be those that are housed within or closely affiliated with the traditional juvenile justice system.The survey indicates that teen courts enjoy broad community support. Their popularity appears to stem from favorable media coverage and the high levels of satisfaction reported by parents, teachers, and youth involved in teen court programs, rather than from evaluation research showing that teen courts have beneficial effects on offenders. Little research has been conducted on outcomes for teen court defendants, although some studies offer encouraging results. Recent studies have found that teen court participation may be associated with low recidivism rates, improved youth attitudes toward authority, and increased knowledge of the justice system among youth. More research is required before claims about teen court effectiveness can be substantiated.
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| Teen Courts: A Focus on Research | |