TEEN COURT
The Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, in conjunction with the State Attorney’s Office, Department of Juvenile Justice, various high schools throughout the Circuit, and the Public Defender’s Office, has developed a diversion program that encourages a wide variety of both educational and discipline roles. Teen Court gives teenagers an opportunity to be attorneys, clerks, bailiffs and jurors who decide the sentence for certain first-time misdemeanor offenses. Teen Court provides teens "hands-on" experience in a supervised atmosphere emphasizing professional and educational benefits to its participants. These programs allow students to start thinking about and exploring possible career opportunities before entering college and selecting a major. Oftentimes, area attorneys coach teen attorneys during Teen Court hearings or act as the presiding judge during Teen Court trials offering constructive criticism after the case has been heard.
The Florida Bar has approved such Teen Court volunteer service as qualifying under pro-bono legal assistance to the poor Rule 4-6.1, Pro-Bono Services, Rules Regulating the Florida Bar. For more information in providing pro-bono legal services to Teen Court, call (561) 462-1147.
The primary goal of Teen Court is to encourage young people to accept responsibility for criminal acts through punitive sanctions and peer review. Additionally, Teen Court aspires to promote self-esteem, motivation for self-improvement and a positive attitude toward authority while reducing the truancy rate.
The benefit of Teen Court to the juvenile defendant is that if he/she completes the sanctions given by the Teen Court jury, the juvenile will not have a criminal conviction on his/her record.
The educational component of Teen Court immediately becomes apparent when one observes the program in operation. Extensive time and training is provided by the various high school teachers, local attorneys, judges, law enforcement agencies and the Teen Court Coordinator. These individuals continually educate students in a variety of areas including:
Actual minor delinquency cases are referred to Teen Court. Typically, they include the following: Petit Theft, Retail Theft, Trespass, Loitering/Prowling, Disorderly Conduct, Possession of Tobacco, Harassing Phone Calls, Vandalism/Property Damage and Criminal Mischief.
The school year (1999-2000) will be the first year block grants will be assessable on a per school basis to all participating schools. Eligible schools are:
Block grant funds are collected via traffic fines in all of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit’s Counties. Block grants up to $10,000.00 per school are available.
The Teen Court Program has several goals and objectives for next year. First, Teen Court will incorporate additional high schools into the program. Contacts have already been made with Vero Beach High School, South Fork High School in Martin County, John Carroll High School and Central High School in Fort Pierce. Second, the program will involve more judges to preside over the Teen Court and more attorneys coaching students.