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When an adult offender goes to court to answer to charges against him, he has the choice of pleading guilty to the offense or going before "a jury of his peers."
Now, juvenile offenders will be afforded that same choice, thanks to a new program being implemented through the Kosciusko County prosecutor's office.
Training gets under way next week for participants in Kosciusko County Teen Court.
In Teen Court, "Kids in grades seven through 12 run a sentencing hearing for real juvenile offenders," said coordinator Rob Reneker. "The kids are sentenced by their peers."
Reneker said he believes the offenders will be held more accountable because not only do they go before their peers, but they must also admit their guilt. The teen jurors hand down the sentence that is best suited to help detract from a recurrence of such an offense.
"The ultimate goal of the jury is to do what's best for the offender, to help them get back on track," Reneker said. "The idea of empowering the kids to make a difference - I love that big time."
Participation by juvenile offenders is strictly voluntary and is for first-time offenders ages 10 through 17 who are recommended for the program by the Kosciusko County Probation Department. Juveniles who qualify are accused of minor offenses, such as shoplifting, vandalism and criminal mischief.
"Probation seems very, very supportive of this," Reneker said, adding that they have already "flagged" some cases for Teen Court. Also, Reneker said, Kosciusko Superior Court I Judge Duane Huffer, who runs the juvenile courtroom, has given the go-ahead for this program.
Often, Reneker said, first-time offenders are given an "informal adjustment," with few restrictions, but the offense is emblazoned on their juvenile records.
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.
Although the jurors, bailiffs, prosecutors and defense attorneys are all teen-agers, a local attorney will volunteer to serve as judge during the hearings to ensure that strict courtroom protocol is followed. Because the offenders are juveniles, the hearings are not open to the public and all participants must sign an oath of confidentiality upon entering the courtroom.
Reneker said this program will benefit everyone involved because participants will see the consequences of other kids' actions and those seeking careers in law or other professions will gain experience in public speaking.
"They are performing a service for the community and that is very positive," Reneker said.
About 90 students have already signed up for this program and applications are still being accepted.
Reneker said he hopes to get the Teen Court hearings under way by the end of October. The hearings will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. every other Tuesday in Kosciusko Superior Court III.
The idea for Teen Court came from a juvenile justice seminar that Prosecutor David 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 which 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 and postage and liability insurance, and contributions are accepted.
Training sessions for Teen Court are set for 3 to 5:15 p.m. Monday in Warsaw Community High School lecture hall Room G152; 3:15 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Tippecanoe Valley High School lecture room; 9 to 11:15 a.m. Oct. 3 at Refior Law Office, 347 N. Buffalo St., Warsaw; and 3:30 to 5:45 p.m. Oct. 6 in the Wawasee Middle School lecture room.
For more information on the program or to apply for participation, contact Reneker at 453-4994 or New Frontiers at 267-1282.
