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Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Ind. Courts - Teen Court at the Vanderburgh County Courthouse
This spring the ILB quoted from a Lafayette Journal & Courier story on a teen court in Tippecanoe County.
Today Kate Braser of the Evansville Courier& Press writes about a teen court at the Vanderburgh County Courthouse. The story begins:
About one year after local teenagers were first given the opportunity to render judgment on their peers in a real court setting, adult coordinators are judging teen court a success.The program - first introduced in February 2004 - did not get into full swing until May 2005, according to Ann Burnworth, executive director of Youth Resources. The Evansville Bar Association funds the program, which is coordinated by Youth Resources.
Burnworth said teen court already has a waiting list for cases, and trials are booked through the end of this year.
To participate, teen offenders must admit guilt and agree to a sentence set by their peers. Eligible teens are first-time offenders facing charges that are not felonies. If they comply with a jury's recommended sentence, their records are wiped clean.
"It's a chance for teens to turn over a new leaf," Burnworth said, adding at least 50 teens were tried before a jury of their peers in the program's first year and at least 60 teens have been trained to serve as prosecutors, defense attorneys, bailiffs or jurors.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on September 19, 2006 10:49 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts