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Teen Court
Wells County Teen Court
Peer Based Justice
Mission: Established to provide a diversion program that holds juveniles accountable for their actions while reducing the caseload of local courts and probation officers.
Benefits:
- Provides education, training, and “hands-on” participation
for youth volunteers which compliments their formal education
and promotes respect for the rule of law.
- Holds the juveniles accountable for their actions while reducing
the caseload of local courts and probation officers.
-
Increased appreciation for the legal system in both offenders
and volunteers.
- A jury of peers decides an appropriate and constructive
disposition for the juvenile consisting of a combination of
community service, restitution, verbal/written apologies, essays,
educational opportunities, and future Teen Court jury service.
- Wells County students (grades 6 – 12) receive training and serve
as clerk, bailiff, jury, prosecuting attorney, and defense attorney
for Teen Court hearings.
- The process takes advantage of one of the most powerful forces
in the life of an adolescent – the desire for peer approval and the
reaction to peer pressure.
- Members of the local Bar Association volunteer their time to
serve as Teen Court judge.
- Teen Court volunteers not only learn how the justice system works from a hands-on perspective, they also help make the community a better place by actively responding to juvenile crime!
Volunteer Application
Indiana State
Teen Court Association
Quotes
“The people were real nice but they let me know I did something
wrong and would be punished” - juvenile offender
“I want to try harder and stay out of trouble.” -juvenile offender
“This program helps us all out, not just the juvenile.” -volunteer
“My experience in Teen Court has been the greatest! I have learned
so much from it!” -volunteer
To receive more information about the program or to become a
volunteer, please contact the Teen Court Coordinator at:
260.824.8574 or WellsTeenCourt@yahoo.com.
To learn about youth courts around the United States, visit the
National Youth Court Center at www.youthcourt.net.