Teen Court©![]()
"Teen Court got me more involved in my school and student life and made me
New Volunteer Training For any current 8th-12th grader interested in becoming a Teen Court volunteer. Any high school student in Southwestern
IN interested in volunteering as a juror, attorney or bailiff for the Vanderburgh County Teen Court can download the application and liability form and submit it to
Youth Resources' Vanderburgh County Teen Court is an early-intervention/diversion program in the Vanderburgh County Juvenile Justice System that offers first-time youth offenders (ages 10-17) an opportunity to turn over a new leaf. Juvenile offenders go before a jury of their peers and are represented by a peer defense attorney. The jury of high school students determines a disposition (verdict) based on restorative justice theory that emphasizes how crimes hurt relationships within our community. The jury's duty is to provide an appropriate sentence for the juvenile offender so they can understand their offense, its impact, and how to make healthy choices in the future. The goals of Vanderburgh County Teen Court are to:
Juvenile respondents benefit greatly from the positive interaction with caring adults and youth, and their assigned dispositions help them understand why the offense they committed was wrong, how it affects others, and how they can get involved in activities for a more positive lifestyle. Families of respondents receive a more personal experience than what the standard probation process provides, and they are encouraged to develop a more supporting & healthy family environment at home. Youth who volunteer in Teen Court substantially improve their leadership and communication skills as well as their awareness to the issues that their peers are facing. Since the first official hearing in 2005, Teen Court has involved over 851 youth volunteers in the roles of judge's observer, prosecuting attorney, defense attorney, bailiff, and jurors. Additionally, more than 1,975 hours have been completed in local community service by the juvenile offenders as part of their sentencing.
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Contact Information
Major Sponsors
Teen Court is also sponsored by:
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