Teen Court

Teen Court is a court for teens conducted by their peers.   It is an alternative to the juvenile court system for teens who have committed specific types of non-violent misdemeanors or school infractions and it is based on the concept of restorative justice.  Restorative justice seeks to hold the offender accountable to repair the damage done by his or her offense and address the cause of the offense rather than simply punish the offender. 

In Teen Court, student volunteers act in various roles in the courtroom including as prosecuting and defense attorneys and as members of a peer jury.  The teen court helps set individualized sanctions for each offender in hopes of repairing relationships in the community and providing resources to improve future decision making.  In return for volunteering their time, the student volunteers learn about the judicial process and community resources and can gain new perspectives and develop useful analytical and communication skills.