University of Wisconsin - Extension

When kids in trouble in Vilas County choose to appear before their peers in teen court instead of seeing an adult judge, they may think they¿ll get off easy: avoid a fine and keep the offense off their records.

However, they¿ll probably leave court with an order to perform 20 to 30 hours of community service, write letters of apology to those they hurt or wronged, attend classes to learn about the dangers of their behavior and prepare a report about what they have learned. These consequences will make a $100 fine sound cheap. But they will be a lot more effective in preventing another brush with the law.

Fewer repeat offenders

Research shows that teens who complete the sentences handed down by a teen court are far less likely to be repeat offenders, according to Rich van Benschoten, UW-Extension youth development specialist. Statewide, he says, about two-thirds of all teens who appeared in a traditional juvenile court were later cited for another offense. For those who went before a teen court, only 13 percent became repeat offenders. Teen courts only hear cases of first-time offenders charged with misdemeanors; comparable statistics for first-time offenders in traditional juvenile courts are not available.

Offenders see consequences

¿I think some kids take us more seriously because we are their peers,¿ says Chado DeYoung, a 17-year-old teen court judge with three years¿ experience hearing cases. ¿When they come to us, they don¿t just get a fine that their parent¿s would pay for them anyway. They really see the consequences of what they did.¿

Nancy Livingston, Vilas County 4-H youth development agent and state president of the Teen Court Association, agrees: ¿These young people learn a lot from the sanctions, whether they go to classes about drinking, tobacco use or retail theft or perform community service. The idea behind this program is to catch problems early and get these kids back to a positive place.¿

Greater family involvement

Connie Abert, a 4-H Youth Development agent in Waupaca County, says teen courts respond more quickly and more often bring parents or other family members into the process.

¿The members of the teen court can question parents. They raise questions such as ¿Does your child have a curfew?¿ or ¿How is your child doing in school?¿.¿ Abert says family involvement is important for preventing future offenses.

Thirty teen courts are at work in Wisconsin communities. In nine counties, UW-Extension 4-H youth development agents play a direct role. Nationally, 150 new teen courts are established every month.

Restorative justice

According to youth development specialist Rich van Benschoten, teen courts work on the three principals of ¿restorative justice¿:

• Repair the harm to the victim. Teen courts impose meaningful sanctions such as letters of apology and payment for damage done.

• Repair the harm to the community. Mandated community service benefits the community. Last year, it is estimated the value of this community service in the average county with a sitting teen court was about $4,500.

• Repair the harm to the offender. Teen courts try to help the offender change behavior and become a contributing member of the community.