"Trying" things our way What is Teen Court?

"Brown County Teen Court is a volunteer program which assists teenage offenders in assuming responsibility for their behavior. Offenders are brought before a jury of their peers where they are appropriately sentenced to fit the crime they have committed." -Brown County Teen Court Mission Statement   Teen Court is a 90 day voluntary diversion program that offers juvenile offenders, ages 10 to 18, who are currently is school, an alternative to appearing in formal court. Teen court is a sentencing court only. Participation in Teen Court is based upon State's Attorney referral, admission of guilt and voluntary compliance. Prior to court, the teen and parents meet with the Teen Court Coordinator(s) and discuss their possible participation in the Brown County Teen Court. After this meeting, upon admission of guilt, and agreement by all parties to cooperate, the juvenile will appear at the next available Teen Court Session. Teen Court holds sessions every other Thursday evening, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. If the juvenile and parents fail to appear at their scheduled time, participation will be terminated and the case will be referred back to the State's Attorney. All members of the Teen Court, with the exception of the Judge, who is a volunteer local attorney, are youth who have participated in training for their respective positions, or juveniles who are required to participate on the jury as a result of their Teen Court sentence.   Top 10 Reasons Communities Should Support a Teen Court Concept 1) Teen Court can reduce the crime rate of teenagers. 2) Teenagers learn from their mistakes because of early intervention. 3) The program is cost effective. 4) Parents and guardians are encouraged to be involved in the process. 5) Teen Court allows young people to get involved within their community. 6) Teen Court allows first time offenders the opportunity to keep their record clean. 7) All cases are handled with confidentiality. 8) The program is totally voluntary. 9) The program holds teens accountable for their actions. 10) Teen Court helps youth develop a healthy attitude toward authority.   Cost for Participation Each juvenile defendant will be assessed a non-refundable administrative fee in the amount to $20.00. This amount must be paid to the Teen Court Coordinator(s) at the initial meeting.   Procedures All sentences handed down by the Teen Court must be completed within 90 days from the date the disposition is rendered. Successful completion of Teen Court requirements within the 90 days will result in the State dismissing the charge(s) and no further prosecution of court appearances will be required. Further infractions within the 90 day period will be cause for the juvenile to be prosecuted by the State.   CAPS: Community Action Points Teen Court is not about punishment, rather it is about identifying what harm teens have caused and finding a way to repair that harm. Each sentence will address the following three areas: Accountability: Activities holding teens accountable for their actions by completing service work for the community. Education: Activities which provide educational opportunities for teens to understand the effects of their choices on others. Community Safety: Activities to encourage teens to become a safe and contributing member of the community. Each sentence will also include returning to sit on the jury, a community service day(s), and other options available. These include drug/alcohol counseling, writing essays, apologies and/or restitution.   Parental Involvement Teen Court is usually when many of the families have their first contact with law enforcement and the Courts. In many cases, positive early intervention with parenting techniques and other programs is the most effective way to deal with the crisis at hand and to ward off future problems. During these "troubling times" it is an ideal time for families to assess their parenting techniques as well as other family dynamics. It is also a perfect opportunity to develop and improve communication between the teen and their parents. Teen Court sanctions will encourage parents and teens to spend more time together in positive activities to enhance family values. The Brown County Teen Court program is designed for families who are self-motivated and willing to confront these situations as an opportunity to make responsible and positive family decisions.   Brown County Teen Court Dress Code No Caps or Hats No Inappropriate T-Shirts No Shorts No Tank Tops No Bib Overalls Jeans are allowed if they are neat and clean. Teen Court reserves the right to refuse to hear cases from those who fail to abide by the dress code. Teen Court will refuse jury duty to persons who do not abide by the dress code.   For more information on Teen Court, contact us at 626-7128 or teencourt@brown.sd.us