teen court:
The Teen Court Philosophy
Teen
Court is based on the premise that most young people want to do what is
right when making decisions. Even those who may make the wrong
choice due to external factors, such as peer pressure, are often
gratified to learn they have an opportunity to make amends.
What better way to influence a young offender than to put the individual before a jury of his or her peers? Peer pressure in a Teen Court setting can have a more immediate and meaningful effect upon a young defendant than the traditional juvenile justice approach. The message given by a peer jury will be long remembered by those seeking to fit within a group and be accepted.
Teen Court provides first-time juvenile offenders the opportunity to participate in a less formal court process carried out by their peers. Teen Court began in 1992 as one of many law-related education programs offered by the Kentucky Court of Justice through its Department of Family and Juvenile Services.
Today the Teen Court concept has been embraced statewide and operates in 35 Kentucky counties. More than 15,000 students have participated in the program since its inception. The program succeeds as a positive alternative to Juvenile Court by bringing together high school students and volunteer teacher-coaches and attorney-coaches.
Role of Teen Volunteers:
Although a district judge presides over Teen Court, it is operated almost entirely by student volunteers, ages 13 to 17, who have completed a 10 hour training session in courtroom roles such as prosecutors, defense attorneys, court clerks, bailiffs and jurors.
Before participating in actual cases, all student volunteers attend a formal swearing-in ceremony where they take an oath of confidentiality to protect the privacy of the defendants who will appear before them. The Teen Court program takes place from September through May to coincide with the school calendar.
What better way to influence a young offender than to put the individual before a jury of his or her peers? Peer pressure in a Teen Court setting can have a more immediate and meaningful effect upon a young defendant than the traditional juvenile justice approach. The message given by a peer jury will be long remembered by those seeking to fit within a group and be accepted.
Teen Court provides first-time juvenile offenders the opportunity to participate in a less formal court process carried out by their peers. Teen Court began in 1992 as one of many law-related education programs offered by the Kentucky Court of Justice through its Department of Family and Juvenile Services.
Today the Teen Court concept has been embraced statewide and operates in 35 Kentucky counties. More than 15,000 students have participated in the program since its inception. The program succeeds as a positive alternative to Juvenile Court by bringing together high school students and volunteer teacher-coaches and attorney-coaches.
Role of Teen Volunteers:
Although a district judge presides over Teen Court, it is operated almost entirely by student volunteers, ages 13 to 17, who have completed a 10 hour training session in courtroom roles such as prosecutors, defense attorneys, court clerks, bailiffs and jurors.
Before participating in actual cases, all student volunteers attend a formal swearing-in ceremony where they take an oath of confidentiality to protect the privacy of the defendants who will appear before them. The Teen Court program takes place from September through May to coincide with the school calendar.