Teen courts, also known as youth or peer courts, are considered one of the fastest growing juvenile prevention and intervention programs in the country. They are rapidly gaining popularity as an alternative to juvenile justice and are considered a primary diversion option for young offenders in the juvenile justice system. Teen courts offer an adjudicatory venue in which nonviolent and, usually, first-time juvenile offenders are sentenced by their peers. Teen courts are generally used for younger juveniles ages 10 to 15 , those with no prior arrest records, and those charged with less-serious law violations e.
Special Feature: Youth/Teen Court Diversion Programs
In Teen Court, Kids Have A Right To A Jury Of Their Peers
The Lakewood Probation Girls Circle group is a model of structured support groups for girls. It is designed to foster self-esteem, help girls maintain authentic connection with peers and adult women in their community, counter trends toward self-doubt and allow for genuine self-expression through verbal sharing and creative activity. It will divert youth from the Longmont Municipal Court and provide opportunity for positive life outcomes and for youth to learn from their mistakes. It provides youth with experiences that are different from traditional juvenile justice experiences. The Lakewood Early Action Program LEAP strives to serve the best interest of our youth and families through competency development, follow through with behavioral health interventions and with innovative programming and community partnerships, while fairly administering justice to all whose lives are impacted by the juvenile justice system. These programs are generally for juvenile offenders who commit first-time, nonviolent, misdemeanor offenses or ordinance violations. Unlike the traditional justice system, Teen Court operates under the Restorative Justice Principles, which gives those impacted by crime the chance to be directly involved in the justice process.
Anthony P. LoGalbo, B. He has also been involved in training workshops and seminars on Teen Court evaluations and data collection for the Florida Association of Teen Courts, Inc. He obtained a B. Charlene M.
Youth court diversion programs are intended to offer an alternative to the traditional juvenile justice system and school disciplinary proceedings. Typically, youth court offenders are first-time offenders between ages 11 and 17 who have been charged with misdemeanor or status offenses, with offenses including theft, vandalism, disorderly conduct, assault, and possession of marijuana. Additionally, youth courts have been used to handle school disciplinary issues, underage drinking, and tobacco possession cases Youth Courts: An Empirical Update and Analysis of Future Organizational and Research Needs , Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention-Sponsored,