Teen Court: A National Movement
Conclusion
Teen courts offer the active learning of law-related education through hands-on
experience with the justice system. Young offenders and the juveniles who determine their
sentences are practicing good citizenship through community service. Teen courts are most
frequently created at the local level, but recent legislation has allowed more teen courts
to be initiated through state governments. Teen courts have varying structures, tailored
to local conditions. Most teen courts operate on limited budgets with strong volunteer
support. Research shows that teen courts promote understanding of the legal system, reduce
recidivism, and encourage participants to accept responsibility for their actions. Local,
statewide, and federal commitments to teen courts indicate they will continue to spread
rapidly and provide a positive alternative to traditional juvenile justice and school
disciplinary procedures.
References
American Bar Association Special Committee on Youth Education for Citizenship. The
Essentials of Law-Related Education. Chicago: American Bar Association, 1995.
Birgam, Karen. Northeast Law/Public Service and Military Magnet High School: School
Court Project. Photocopied. Jefferson City, MO: The Missouri Bar, 1992.
Godwin, Tracy M. Peer Justice and Youth Empowerment: An Implementation Guide for
Teen Court Programs. U.S. Department of Transportation, 1996.
Hissong, Rod. "Teen Court—Is It an Effective Alternative to Traditional
Sanctions?" Journal for Juvenile Justice and Detention Services (Fall 1991)
6:14–23.
Hunter, Robert M. "Law-Related Educational Practice and Delinquency Theory," The
International Journal of Social Education (Autumn 1987) 2: 52–64.
Jones, Carol. "Teen Court Evaluation of 1994 Activities and Goals: Routes for
Youth, Santa Rosa, California," Photocopied. Sebastopol, Calif.: SRA Associates, June
1995.
North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts. "Report on the Teen Court
Programs in North Carolina," Photocopied. Submitted to the North Carolina General
Assembly, March 15, 1995.
Wells, James B., and Kevin I. Minor. "Kentucky's Teen Court Initiative: An
Assessment," Photocopied. Prepared for Kentucky Court of Justice, Administrative
Office of the Courts, Frankfort, Ky., 1997.
>>What are teen courts?
>>The Growth of Teen Courts
>>The Major Models
>>Steps for Implementing a Teen Court
>>Teen Courts and Law-Related Education
>>Delinquency Prevention; The Educational Role
>>Training
>>Profile: Salt Lake City's Peer Court
>>Student Courts
>>How Do Lawyers, Judges, and the Bar Support Teen
Courts?
>>Profile: A Lawyer's Inside View of Teen Court
>>Profile: The Wyoming Bar and Teen Court
>>Evaluation
>>Funding
>>Conclusion and References
>>Resources and Additional Information
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