Favorable Verdict: Teen Court Helps Young People Get Back on Track

To err is human.

However, many times a mistake made early on will follow a person and negatively impact the course of the rest of their life. Statistically speaking, criminal offenses occur most commonly among those age 15–21, a time when peer influence is at its peak and decision-making undeveloped at best.

For example, take a group of high school students who make a variety of poor choices. Let’s say one gets cited for petit theft for shoplifting. Another, caught smoking an e-cigarette on school property. The last, cited with possession of marijuana and being under the influence. Certainly, this could be a defining moment, affecting or even determining their futures. Some will decide they want to turn things around; but others, without guidance or resources, might continue down an increasingly troubled path.

Luckily for these students, they’re participants in a Monday night Teen Court session in North Port, and they are being tried in a court of their peers. The program serves as an alternative to the juvenile court system, giving teenagers who have made poor decisions a chance to keep the offense off their permanent record—a real-life gift of a second chance.

“She’ll learn from this lesson…”

Remember the student cited for underage tobacco use on school property? Let’s call her “Becky.” She’s thankful for the opportunity to learn from her mistakes: “It helps me understand that it could be worse—like if I got caught and charged at juvenile court," she says. "This is just showing me what could happen if I do anything else.”

Her father is relieved. “I’m happy for this opportunity that she has instead of getting in trouble and suspended or expelled,” says Becky’s dad. “She’ll learn from this lesson and move on.”

Nearly all youths who complete the program will not have a repeat offense. Teen Court of Sarasota has a 92% success rate—meaning these teens do not re-offend—compared with a 52% success rate in juvenile court.

And it’s not only teens who benefit from this program. Over the last year, Courteney Jones has watched her 11-year-old son Nate learn and grow since he began participating in the program as a bailiff, helping him find his passion in life—becoming a police officer. “I get to experience cases that I’ve never dealt with,” says Nate. “Sometimes these cases surprise me, and it’s cool that I get to be involved in this instead of watching it on the news.”

In Teen Court, the defendant, or “client,” has the opportunity to take the stand and tell their story to a jury of their peers, a prosecuting teenage attorney, teenage defense attorney, and an adult judge. The client receives a sentence, which includes some combination of community service, jury duty, essays, and educational programs that focus on issues they face every day. Some topics include substance-abuse education, bullying, peer pressure, and more. 

Jones is thankful to have a resource like Teen Court to provide second chances and to offer a support system, reminding the teens that people believe in them. “Sometimes these kids need someone other than their parents to show them the way…and teach them that it’s OK to make mistakes,” she says. “They need someone other than mom and dad to show them.”

Long-reaching, life-changing benefits

For Janice Keeney, Teen Court has become something she and her grandson do together. She’s in awe of the range of kids who benefit from the program.

“Some kids walk in the first day, and their heads are kind of down and they know they’re in trouble… and then next time they come in and they’re doing their jury duty and they’re sitting up straighter, they’re volunteering for different things,” says Keeney. “And instead of being at odds with the attorneys, they’re high-fiving, no grudges—it’s a beautiful thing.”

Second chances for young offenders may have long-reaching and perhaps even life-changing benefits. Children whose mistakes bring them into the juvenile justice system may find it hard to turn things around. Teen Court has the potential to allow them to see the error of their ways, without the pain of adult consequences. Gulf Coast Community Foundation is honored to support an organization geared toward assessing the needs of the child and the root of a mistake before it has life-altering ramifications.

Watch this video by Teen Court of Sarasota to learn more about this exceptional program for youth in our region: