Teen Court | Teen Ink

Teen Court

December 8, 2010
By Anonymous

I stand- ready to talk to the jury and present my opening statement. They listen. And the night begins.
I’m a volunteer in Teen Court. Teen Court is a program for REAL first time juvenile offenders. In Teen Court almost everybody’s a kid. The Bailiff is a kid (they take care of stuff like opening and closing court), the Clerk of Court is a kid (they take care of confidentiality oaths and the like), the attorneys are kids (they represent the state and the defendants), and the jury are all kids (they decide the punishment for the kids). The only adult is the judge.
In Teen Court the defendants already have admitted their guilt. The jury of their peers decides their punishment. Punishment is community service, educational seminars, apology letters, and stuff like that. The jury (part of which are there as part of their punishment) decide what punishments, how many hours, and the like. I’ve seen kids come in for everything from affray to breaking and entering. Most of the kids walk out with just the scare they need and having learned their lesson.
Being in Teen Court has taught me so much. I’m usually a defense attorney but I have been a prosecuting attorney also so I’ve learned to see both sides. I’ve learned to appreciate how great a family I have because so many of these kids don’t have that. I’ve also learned a lot about how court works.
I present closing arguments. The bailiff closes court. The night is over.


The author's comments:
Even through I don't want to be a lawyer when I grow up I love studying law and this program is awesome.

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This article has 4 comments.


on Dec. 13 2010 at 8:29 pm
SkyDeer PLATINUM, Mebane, North Carolina
20 articles 19 photos 49 comments

Favorite Quote:
Respect the nerds, they will be your boss someday- The Computer Guy.<br /> The best is yet to come and baby won&#039;t it be fine- A band.<br /> Defiant is the best word in the dictionary!

Some counties have one or just areas in general- might try calling dispute settlement or juvienle servies to find out.

LunaLives GOLD said...
on Dec. 13 2010 at 6:52 pm
LunaLives GOLD, South Bend, Indiana
17 articles 0 photos 237 comments

Favorite Quote:
Because I can!-Me &quot;Life is a choice and death is a decision&quot;-Lil Wayne

ya.  were are they at? i want to join 1.

on Dec. 12 2010 at 5:08 pm
ScorpionAngel16 BRONZE, New York City, New York
3 articles 0 photos 6 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Nobody can make you inferior without your consent&quot;~Eleanor Roosevelt~

i love this article there shud be a forum called teen court...

on Dec. 12 2010 at 3:58 pm
Alisha.Mariiex0x0 BRONZE, Gilbert, Arizona
2 articles 0 photos 5 comments

Favorite Quote:
Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.

This was really cool to read(: How could I get in touch with someone there or find a Teen Court I could join ?