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Teen Court

NCJ Number
165957
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 66 Issue: 3 Dated: (March 1997) Pages: 1-7
Author(s)
S J Zehner
Date Published
1997
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Young people who complete teen court programs reoffend at a much lower rate than young people tried and sentenced in juvenile courts, as demonstrated by the teen court in Bay County, Florida.
Abstract
Teen courts are not designed to replace juvenile courts. Rather, they offer a highly structured and effective way of guiding some young people away from trouble by showing them criminal activity has both immediate and long-term consequences. The central feature of the teen court approach is that first-time offenders charged with a misdemeanor offense receive judgment from their peers. Offenders receive a wide range of sentences and they must complete their sentences within 30 days. About 20 distinct teen court programs currently operate in Florida. In Bay County, Florida, each young person must complete a 7-hour workday, supervised by the Panama City Police Department's community services division. The teen court philosophy in Bay County takes a two-track approach to sentencing: (1) offenders receive sanctions designed to punish their misdeeds; and (2) offenders and their parents must participate in counseling to help them understand the teen court process and appreciate the consequences of antisocial and criminal behavior. Offenders primarily complete community service hours at several schools after school, 3 days a week, and on Saturdays. Each offender must also serve on a jury, ensuring a constant pool of jurors for future offenders. The teen court director and an assistant monitor all active cases on a daily basis, and police officers are notified of sanctions imposed on young people when they are referred to teen court. The Bay County teen court is one of the few teen courts in Florida that receive cases through direct law enforcement referrals. Teen court programs succeed because they use peer pressure to reinforce negative consequences of crime and they create a structured environment for law enforcement, courts, and the community to intervene before first-time offenders become hardened criminals. Low recidivism rates and cost-effectiveness make the teen court a viable supplement to the juvenile court in many communities. 3 endnotes and 2 photographs