What Are the Goals of Teen Court?
The primary goal of Teen Court is to intervene in early criminal behaviors to reduce incidents and prevent the escalation of such behaviors. Teen Court teaches both teen volunteers and the offenders about the laws that were broken, the consequences of the offense, and how due process is observed through court procedure. How Does Teen Court Work? Teen Court is a REAL sentencing court for first time offenders charged with misdemeanors. The offender is represented and prosecuted by teens and goes before a jury of peers who decide how the defendant will be held accountable for his or her actions. The jury is presented with evidence relevant to sentencing, deliberates and renders a binding sentence for the offender. Sentencing may include community service, papers, jury duty, finding employment and curfews. The jury cannot sentence any youth to a detention facility or jail. What Are the Roles For Teen Volunteers? Teen participate by being defense attorneys, prosecuting attorneys, clerks, ba
