By Sama Allam
If you have seen those bright orange Teen Court posters around Tempe Prep’s campus, then you have definitely wondered, what is Teen Court? You might also ask, is Teen Court real court, or is it a mock trial? Are real delinquents being tried? Do jury members decide the guilt or innocence of juvenile delinquents? Dream Singh and Carlo Ledesma, TPA seniors, provide answers to these questions.
Dream offers a basic explanation of what Teen Court is: “Teen Court is a mini-court for minor offences . . . like trespassing, or shoplifting.” Teens who commit these offenses can choose to go to Teen Court instead of actual court.
Carlo further explains, “You’re working with all teenagers . . . people who have done, for the most part, small crimes . . . Essentially [you are] giving them, not punishments, but, improvements or ways for them to improve themselves.” Some of these improvements include, but are not limited to, community service, life skills classes, and mandatory tutoring hours. A jury member’s duty in Teen Court consists of assessing the crime and the delinquent and assigning appropriate duties.
Although Teen Court is not a full-blown court like the ones seen on television, the jury’s sentence does hold power and must be upheld.
While the duties of a jury member are substantial, jury members do not decide the guilt or innocence of a teenager. By coming to Teen Court, the teenager has already acknowledged participation in a crime. Dream clarifies, the jury simply provides restorative justice.
Dream, the Teen Court president, illustrates the exposure that volunteering at Teen Court provides: “What I’ve noticed is that a lot of people who go to Teen Court once decide that they really like it and they want to go every month.” A good example of this statement is Carlo. For example, Carlo has volunteered at many Teen Court sessions during the school year, as well as during the summer, where the sessions often took place in official locations like the Gilbert Courthouse.
He provides some valuable insight based on his experiences learned through many hours of Teen Court service: “You should want to do [Teen Court] out of a certain kindness in your heart . . . We all make mistakes. If you are going to do Teen Court, it should be because you want to help these other teens.”
To summarize and answer the question, What is Teen Court?, it is a rehabilitation program of sorts. The value of this court lies in its ability and desire to help misguided teenagers by giving them a chance at self-correction.