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What is Teen Court? |
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mission of the Charles County Teen Court is to provide first
time misdemeanor offenders an opportunity to restore relationships
within their communities through informal methods of adjudication
and provide them the resources to enhance their future decision
making. These diversion programs are designed to teach responsibility
and appropriate decision making while restoring a sense of
safety in the community. It is based on the philosophy that
a youthful law violator does not continue to be an offender
when a peer jury decides punishment. It provides an opportunity
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time offenders to avoid the stigma of a formal juvenile
record while
focusing on youth accountability and development.
Teen Court offers a forum for respondents,
ages 12 - 17, to explain their involvement with a misdemeanor
offense in a structured environment where their words and
actions are evaluated and judged by a jury of their peers.
The opportunity for respondents to accept responsibility for
their actions by fulfilling sanctions such as community service
hours and jury duty assignments.
Teen Court
handles misdemeanor offenses including: theft, assault, traffic
violations, School- based offenses, destruction of property (DoP),
minor alcohol offenses, and trespassing. Juvenile cases
addressed by Teen Court can be handled on a timely basis and
free up the formal Juvenile Justice and Court systems to handle
more serious offenses.
The Charles
County Teen Court is the only program in the State of Maryland
and only one of a few in the country to handle traffic cases.
As a result of the outstanding cooperation and support of the
Charles County District Court Judges, The Honorable Richard A.
Cooper and The Honorable W. Louis Hennessy, eligible first time
traffic offenders are given the opportunity to have their cases
heard in Teen Court.
Even though
participation in Teen Court is totally voluntary, not every
youth who is referred is eligible for this unique program.
Therefore, it is regarded as a privilege to be selected either
as a volunteer, or a respondent. Blatant disregard for the rules
and procedures of the Teen Court Program will result in the
privilege of participation being terminated.
Confidentiality, objectivity, respect for the rights of others,
making a positive contribution to society, living within the
law, acting responsibly and understanding the justice system are
all fundamental Teen Court principles. These same principles
also serve as the very foundation of the relationships and
interactions between the various players during the court
proceedings.
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How Teen Court Works |
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Teen
Court referrals come from a multitude of sources including:
Sheriff’s Officers, State Troopers, the Department of Juvenile
Services, and District Court Judges. Once identified by the
Teen Court Coordinator as one who meets the criteria for Teen
Court, the offending youth is required to plead guilty and
understand that their participation in the program is totally
voluntary. Parental consent and participation is essential and
mandatory. Teen Court is designed to expedite the cases of
first time misdemeanor offenders.
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These are real cases where an arrest has been
made,
or in the case of traffic violations, to the
District Court of Charles County. Cases are
screened for any prior arrest history and appropriateness
by the Program Coordinator before being accepted to Teen Court
for disposition.
When the case is to be presented in the "Petit
Court" format, the respondent will have a "teen defense
attorney" assigned to the case who will bring out any and all
mitigating circumstances in an effort to convince the jury to
minimize the disposition the jury is required to impose under
the sanction guidelines. There is also a "teen prosecuting
attorney" who will try to bring forward all the reasons that the
jury should impose a stronger sentence within the sanction
guidelines.
Following the hearing, the Teen Court Coordinator
reviews the disposition determined by the jury with the
respondent and his or her parents. They sign a contract agreeing
to complete the imposed sanctions within the allotted timeframe.
If the respondent completes the sanctions within the prescribed
time, the case is closed out, and normally no further action is
taken.
Teen Court
sanctions are designed to fit the offense and may involve the
respondent performing future jury sittings, community service
hours, and other educational projects
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Who
Serves On The Teen Jury? |
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the petit court model is used, the clerks, bailiffs, prosecuting
and defense attorneys, and jurors will be Charles County middle
school and high school volunteers (Ages 12 - 17) and prior
respondents. They will receive instruction and guidance from
local attorneys, who will also take the role of judge. When
the grand jury court model is used, the panelists will also
be Charles County middle school and high school volunteers
(Ages 12 - 17) and prior respondents. Volunteer jury members
can receive hour for hour credit towards their Service Learning
Project hours required for graduation. |
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