Teen Court Gives New Meaning To Jury Of Peers
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Nerves were on edge Tuesday night when the inaugural session of Teen Court got under way in the Kosciusko County Justice Building.
It wasn't just the defendants who were nervous, either. Jurors and attorneys seemed jittery, too.
That is, until the court action began in Kosciusko Superior Court III, and the teen-age participants took on adult roles and attitudes.
Prosecutor David Kolbe served as judge for the first hearing in Teen Court, with Ben Ashpole of Wawasee High School as prosecutor and Joshiekka Outlaw of Warsaw Community High School as defense attorney.
Everyone present in the courtroom was required to take an oath of confidentiality, vowing not to repeat any specifics of the goings-on there. Even though the defendants voluntarily take part in Teen Court and plead guilty prior to entering the courtroom, questions are still asked regarding the incidents leading to charges being filed against them. The teens are put on the spot before their peers and parents.
Juvenile hearings are normally closed to the public, but media representatives were allowed to attend this session with permission from the defendants and the defendants' parents.
Kolbe stressed the need for confidentiality and told the teens that the matters before them were "very serious."
He said, "The defendants have violated the law and have chosen a jury of their peers. Even though they violated the law, they deserve your respect and attention."
Fourteen jurors were seated for each hearing. Normally, only 12 jurors would have heard the evidence in each case, but Teen Court coordinator Rob Reneker said that of the 30 teens "summoned" to appear for jury duty, 28 showed up and he wanted to give them all a chance to participate.
As prosecutor, Ashpole made a recommendation for each defendant's punishment, as did Outlaw. Because this was a juvenile hearing, the nature of the offenses, the recommendations for sentencing and the outcomes will not be published.
Of the sentencing, Reneker said that the jurors "chose an option that was very fair."
Because the Times-Union publishes the names of juveniles ages 13 and older if they are arrested, it was pointed out by one defendant and that offender's father that the embarrassment of seeing one's name in the local newspaper could almost serve as punishment in and of itself.
The unexpected consequences and repercussions of becoming a juvenile offender also could prove a financial hardship on them, as well; one defendant said there was a possibility of losing scholarship money because of not anticipating the outcome of actions.
Participation by juvenile offenders is strictly voluntary and is for first-time offenders ages 10 through 17 recommended for the program by the Kosciusko County Probation Department. Juveniles who qualify are accused of minor offenses, including shoplifting, vandalism and criminal mischief.
Through Teen Court, the offender is given a chance to complete a sentence such as community service, making restitution for damages, giving a written or verbal apology to the victim of the crime, participating in an educational workshop (i.e., for drug, alcohol or anger management), writing an essay about the offense and/or serving on future Teen Court juries. The offender has 90 days to complete the sentence and, if successful, the offense never appears on their juvenile record.
The participants were trained for their roles in court prior to the hearing, and the attorneys were given a week to review the facts of each case and prepare questions and arguments.
Students in grades seven through 12 can take part in the Teen Court system. Teen Court hearings are expected to take place from 6 to 8 p.m. every other Tuesday.
Prior to the first session, Reneker said this program would benefit everyone involved because participants would see the consequences of other kids' actions, and those seeking careers in law or other professions will gain experience in public speaking.
Afterward, he said he was "impressed with the attention of the kids and the respect they showed." He added that the parents reacted similarly and were "surprised at how seriously the kids took it."
Nearly 100 students are signed up for this program.
"I was very impressed with the presentation of both counsel, the bailiff and the fact that the defendant's parents were present," Kolbe told those present in the courtroom after the first hearing. "It was very similar to the real thing."
The idea for Teen Court came from a juvenile justice seminar that Kolbe attended. The first Teen Court was established in Odessa, Texas, in 1983 and there are now more than 450 such programs nationwide.
Teen Court is a not-for-profit entity that raises its own funding and is underwritten by New Frontiers. A budget of about $40,000 is projected for Teen Court to cover salary, training materials, postage and liability insurance, and contributions are accepted.
For more information on the program, contact Reneker at 453-4994 or New Frontiers at 267-1282. [[In-content Ad]]
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Nerves were on edge Tuesday night when the inaugural session of Teen Court got under way in the Kosciusko County Justice Building.
It wasn't just the defendants who were nervous, either. Jurors and attorneys seemed jittery, too.
That is, until the court action began in Kosciusko Superior Court III, and the teen-age participants took on adult roles and attitudes.
Prosecutor David Kolbe served as judge for the first hearing in Teen Court, with Ben Ashpole of Wawasee High School as prosecutor and Joshiekka Outlaw of Warsaw Community High School as defense attorney.
Everyone present in the courtroom was required to take an oath of confidentiality, vowing not to repeat any specifics of the goings-on there. Even though the defendants voluntarily take part in Teen Court and plead guilty prior to entering the courtroom, questions are still asked regarding the incidents leading to charges being filed against them. The teens are put on the spot before their peers and parents.
Juvenile hearings are normally closed to the public, but media representatives were allowed to attend this session with permission from the defendants and the defendants' parents.
Kolbe stressed the need for confidentiality and told the teens that the matters before them were "very serious."
He said, "The defendants have violated the law and have chosen a jury of their peers. Even though they violated the law, they deserve your respect and attention."
Fourteen jurors were seated for each hearing. Normally, only 12 jurors would have heard the evidence in each case, but Teen Court coordinator Rob Reneker said that of the 30 teens "summoned" to appear for jury duty, 28 showed up and he wanted to give them all a chance to participate.
As prosecutor, Ashpole made a recommendation for each defendant's punishment, as did Outlaw. Because this was a juvenile hearing, the nature of the offenses, the recommendations for sentencing and the outcomes will not be published.
Of the sentencing, Reneker said that the jurors "chose an option that was very fair."
Because the Times-Union publishes the names of juveniles ages 13 and older if they are arrested, it was pointed out by one defendant and that offender's father that the embarrassment of seeing one's name in the local newspaper could almost serve as punishment in and of itself.
The unexpected consequences and repercussions of becoming a juvenile offender also could prove a financial hardship on them, as well; one defendant said there was a possibility of losing scholarship money because of not anticipating the outcome of actions.
Participation by juvenile offenders is strictly voluntary and is for first-time offenders ages 10 through 17 recommended for the program by the Kosciusko County Probation Department. Juveniles who qualify are accused of minor offenses, including shoplifting, vandalism and criminal mischief.
Through Teen Court, the offender is given a chance to complete a sentence such as community service, making restitution for damages, giving a written or verbal apology to the victim of the crime, participating in an educational workshop (i.e., for drug, alcohol or anger management), writing an essay about the offense and/or serving on future Teen Court juries. The offender has 90 days to complete the sentence and, if successful, the offense never appears on their juvenile record.
The participants were trained for their roles in court prior to the hearing, and the attorneys were given a week to review the facts of each case and prepare questions and arguments.
Students in grades seven through 12 can take part in the Teen Court system. Teen Court hearings are expected to take place from 6 to 8 p.m. every other Tuesday.
Prior to the first session, Reneker said this program would benefit everyone involved because participants would see the consequences of other kids' actions, and those seeking careers in law or other professions will gain experience in public speaking.
Afterward, he said he was "impressed with the attention of the kids and the respect they showed." He added that the parents reacted similarly and were "surprised at how seriously the kids took it."
Nearly 100 students are signed up for this program.
"I was very impressed with the presentation of both counsel, the bailiff and the fact that the defendant's parents were present," Kolbe told those present in the courtroom after the first hearing. "It was very similar to the real thing."
The idea for Teen Court came from a juvenile justice seminar that Kolbe attended. The first Teen Court was established in Odessa, Texas, in 1983 and there are now more than 450 such programs nationwide.
Teen Court is a not-for-profit entity that raises its own funding and is underwritten by New Frontiers. A budget of about $40,000 is projected for Teen Court to cover salary, training materials, postage and liability insurance, and contributions are accepted.
For more information on the program, contact Reneker at 453-4994 or New Frontiers at 267-1282. [[In-content Ad]]