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Reproductions Supplied by EDRS Are the Best That Can Be Made from the Original Document. I I I 'I ' DOCUMENT RESUME ED 461 061 CG 027 822 AUTHOR Godwin, Tracy M. TITLE Peer Justice and Youth Empowerment: An Implementation Guide for Teen Court Programs. INSTITUTION National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (DOT), Washington, D. C.; Council of State Governments, Lexington, KY.; Department of Justice, Washington, DC. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.; American Probation and Parole Association, Lexington, KY. PUB DATE 1996-00-00 NOTE 291p.; Produced with Daid J. Steinhart and Betsy A. Fulton. CONTRACT DTNH22-94-Z-05212 PUB TYPE Guides Non-Classroom (055) Tests/Questionnaires (160) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC12 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Adolescents; Delinquency; *Delinquent Rehabilitation; Empowerment; *Juvenile Courts; *Juvenile Justice; Peer Influence; Program Descriptions; Program Development; Program Evaluation; Secondary Education; Volunteers; Youth Problems ABSTRACT Growing evidence indicates that teen courts give a community's children and adults a practical response to the problems associated with delinquency, traffic safety, and substance abuse. Developing and implementing teen courts requires a collaborative effort and juvenile justice agencies need baseline information that will aid them in creating teen court programs as viable alternatives for juvenile offenders. A description of the teen court program, along with baseline information, are provided in this guide. The text examines the teen court concept in depth, giving a history of its effectiveness. No particular program model is endorsed, but examples and descriptions are provided to illustrate the variety of ways teen court programs operate. Detailed information is given on organizing the community, developing a program purpose and goals, designing program services, developing a program model, recruiting and training volunteers, as well as program evaluation and on legal issues. At the end of each chapter are checklists that summarize the chapter's material and directions for guiding program developers. Seven appendices include: sample resources for program development and implementation, sample teen court program brochures, a teen court directory, sample forms, sample courtroom protocol, sample volunteer resources, and sample program evaluation resources. (Contains approximately 100 references.) (RJM) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. I I I 'I ' I " I I I' I I III II ' /4 4 .....ilL. ---.t I , 7; I 1 A/-ft. wAPP- 3 ifilf, V --- 1011. 0001111160._ 111Na.,,, ..--"- U S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION "41- Office of Educational ReSearCh and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) 0 This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization onginating A _ 0 Minor changes have been made to improve NMI reproduction Quality Points of view or opinions stated in this docu went do not necessarily represent official wq --,M1106. OERI position or policy D-s. - I IS 411 A 1 IIIII 1 o) - %IA 1 Hill I 1 1 1 . 0 9 a . s BEST COPY AVAILABLE 2 FOREWORD Growing evidence indicates that teen courts give a community's children and adults a practical response to the problems associated with delinquency, traffic safety, and substance abuse. The teen court program, often referred to as youth court or peer court, holds youthful offenders accountable for their actions. The program also helps develop valuable skills and competencies that will aid them in becoming more responsible and productive citizens. Early intervention is often the key to turning young lives around. Peer influence can have remarkable success. Teen courts are every bit as vigorous as the more traditional courts and pack the added wallop of having juvenile offenders explain their conduct to other young people who know the circumstances of life in the community. Teen juries are thoughtful, conscientious, and not easily misled. To assist jurisdictions in the development of teen courts, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the U.S. Department of Justice have joined with the American Probation and Parole Association in preparing this comprehensive guide to the area of the teen court programming. We encourage you to adapt the concepts discussed in the document to design and implement a program that fits your needs. Janet Reno Federico Perla United States Attorney General Secretary of Transportation JUSTIC 'I P £11T fill 1111MIIIMTI II 1 0,Akr, emu INNII/UM/a/ 1.11111 .114110 'Nom MN NM mug sum IMMA flfill PROU MOEN ®1f;i f mignil, Jas_lite n People Saving People Deiding y Prenntdo,z The research conducted for this Guide was supported under award #DTNH22-94-Z-05212 fromthe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. This Guide was prepared in cooperation with the Council of State Governments, which provides secretariat services to the American Probation and Parole Association. Points of view or opinions expressed in this document are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Transportation orthe U.S. Department of Justice. AUTHOR Tracy M. Godwin with David J. Steinhart and Betsy A. Fulton ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This document was designed and developed by Special thanks and acknowledgments also are staff and consultants from the American extended to: James B. Wright, Project Monitor Probation and Parole Association (APPA). with the National Highway Traffic Safety Funding for this project was provided through a Administration, for his invaluable and continued grant from the Department of Transportation, guidance and support; David J. Steinhart and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Betsy A. Fulton for their respective (NHTSA). The U.S. Department of Justice, contributions in the writing of Chapter 3, "Legal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Issues for Teen Courts" and Chapter 10, Prevention (OHDP), also contributed to this "Program Evaluation;" the staff and volunteers project. This Guide draws on the ideas and of the Buncombe County Teen Court Program in experiences of many who work ih teen court Asheville, and the Cumberland County Teen programs across the nation. It would be Court Program in Fayetteville, North Carolina impossible to acknowledge individually all who for their insight and input; Paula Nessel, Project contributed; however, we would like to Coordinator with the National Law-Related especially express our appreciation to all of Education Resource Center of the American Bar those who sent in program materials, responded Association, for her support and assistance in to the APPA Teen Court Program Survey, and promoting teen courts on a national level; and took the time to discuss their programs and Timothy H. Matthews, APPA Staff Director, and answer our numerous questions. Kimberly Borwig, Administrative Assistant, for their ongoing guidance and support throughout The following individuals provided consultation the development of this Guide. in the review of this Guide. Their contributions and support are greatly appreciated. Cathy Moeller Former Teen Court Coordinator LaPorte Teen Court Program LaPorte, Indiana Linda Blair Teen Court Coordinator Fort Worth Teen Court Program Fort Worth, Texas Scott B. Peterson Director Youth Courts of the Capital Districts, Inc. Latham, New York William C. Pericak Assistant U.S. Attorney President, Board of Directors Youth Courts of the Capital Districts, Inc. Latham, New York 7 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION TO THE GUIDE ix CHAPTER 1: AN OVERVIEW OF THE TEEN COURT CONCEPT 1 Introduction 3 Examining Why Communities Should Implement Teen Court Programs 3 Individual and Societal Effects of Adolescent Substance Use and Delinquency 5 Effects of Delinquency and Substance Use on the Individual 5 Societal Costs of Crime and Substance Use 6 Teen Courts as a Method for Responding to Delinquency and Substance Use 8 Holding Offenders Accountable 8 Capitalizing on Peer Influence 8 Facilitating the Development of Competencies in Youth 9 Empowering and Involving Youth 9 The History and Present Status of Teen Court Programs 10 Trial Models 11 Trial Model A 11 Trial Model B 11 Trial Model C 12 Peer Jury Models 12 Purpose of This Manual 12 Conclusion 14 CHAPTER 2: ORGANIZING THE COMMUNITY 15 Introduction 17 Developing Stakeholder Partnerships 17 Identifying Key Stakeholders 17 Judges 18 Juvenile Justice System Representatives 18 City and State Officials 19 Educators and School Officials 19 Civic and Social Service Organization Representatives 19 Victims 19 Youth 19 Making Contact With Stakeholders 20 Surveys and Questionnaires 20 Personal Contact 21 Forming a Task Force or Advisory Committee 21 Using Community Resources Efficiently 23 Conducting a Needs and Resources Assessment 23 Type of Information to Be Gathered 23 Possible Data Sources 23 Using the Information Received 24 Interagency Coordination and Collaboration 24 Sustaining Community Support 25 American Probation and Parole Association Conclusion 26 Checklist for Organizing the Community 27 CHAPTER 3: LEGAL ISSUES FOR TEEN COURTS 29 Introduction 31 Authorization and Sponsorship 31 Issues of Due Process and Consent 32 Consent Forms 33 Teen Court Legal Procedure 34 Confidentiality 34 Privacy Rights in the Context of Teen Court 34 Attendance at Proceedings 35 Handling of Records 35 Written Policies and Protocols 35 Liability 35 Immunity 36 Waivers and Releases 36 Insurance 37 Liability and
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