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After a seemingly successful first year of the Kosciusko County Teen Court - in which juveniles are judged by their peers - the juvenile court judge has killed the program.
Rob Reneker, executive director of New Frontiers Inc. and Teen Court program coordinator, said that no explanation was given for Kosciusko County Superior Court I Judge Duane Huffer's failure to renew an order allowing juvenile information to be released by the probation department for use in the Teen Court program.
A one-sentence response to several requests regarding renewal of the order states: "I will not be renewing my order allowing release of information from the Court's Juvenile Probation Department to Teen Court." The letter is signed by Huffer, who also is the county's juvenile court judge.
Reneker said that he and probation department officials are both disappointed and perplexed by the judge's decision because the program has been well-received by the probation department, program participants and within the community.
However, Huffer said Tuesday that the program "didn't serve the purposes of my juvenile delinquents nor save time for the juvenile probation officers." He also said that the original order was signed allowing for the program to run for 10 months and that he gave no indication that it would extend beyond that time.
Of the 41 disposition hearings held since Oct. 27, 1998, one juvenile has committed a new offense and four failed to complete their sentences, according to information provided by Reneker. However, 36 of the 41 offenders successfully completed their sentences.
The Kosciusko County Teen Court Program was established in 1998 as a means of holding teen offenders accountable for their actions by a jury of their peers. All participants in the program are volunteers. The offenders are referred to the program by the probation department and the program deals mostly with first-time offenders committing minor offenses. Prior to taking part in the program, the offender admits his or her guilt and the Teen Court process is used to determine an appropriate sentence.
"The program appears to have done exactly what it's supposed to do, to hold them more accountable," Reneker said. "It did that. It's served its purpose."
In light of the success of the program, Reneker believes it should not be discontinued and, he said, the probation department has commended the efforts of New Frontiers in coordinating the program.
"Probation was thrilled with the program," Reneker said. "Probation said we've gone above and beyond what they expected from the program."
"Any dispositional alternative that is innovative, such as this one, is always good," said Chief Probation Officer Ruth Hoffer. "From a statistical viewpoint and from the feedback we got, it was a good program." She added that the schools supported the program because it was a good learning experience for the students involved in it.
Hoffer said that the probation department would continue to use the program if it were renewed.
The program, initiated through a grant, was funded through New Frontiers and was at no cost to taxpayers. The program also received monetary support from several individuals and local businesses.
