PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

In 1992, a juvenile ad hoc procedures multi-agency committee was formed to look at the serious problem in Lincoln County of "minor in possession" charges. Although 264 youths were arrested for that offense, the six law enforcement agencies were enforcing the law inconsistently. The committee developed a new protocol for handling "minor in possession" charges. As a result, the Juvenile Department was flooded with cases. When someone on the committee heard about the Teen Court concept, the committee decided to give it a try.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The goal of Teen Court is to divert first-time juvenile offenders from the formal juvenile justice system in order to reduce recidivism and to promote safe driving and other healthy behavior. The objectives are to:

• Divert at least 150 first-time juvenile offenders from the formal juvenile justice system
• Assess all juveniles who participate in the program for probable risk factors that contribute to delinquent behavior
• Realize a 93 percent completion or continuance rate for those youth entering the program at the end of the first year
• Realize a recidivism rate not to exceed 17 percent
• Provide a youth traffic safety program component as a way to promote traffic safety and safe driving by the youth of Lincoln County
• Compare program outcomes and saving to those of the juvenile justice system.

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES

Teen Court is staffed by adult volunteers and teenagers, including previous defendants, who hear cases referred by the Juvenile Department.

To be eligible for Teen Court, the offender must admit guilt prior to a hearing. Upon receiving a referral, the Teen Court coordinator meets with the youth and parent/guardian to explain the program and the youth's rights. The presiding judge is the only adult to participate in the hearing. Volunteer high school students function as attorneys. The Teen Court determines the sentence. Each defendant receiving a sentence in Teen Court will perform community service and, after being trained for jury duty, serve as a juror in one or more trials. Part of the sentence often is to watch a traffic safety video and write a report or to interview an EMS technician about alcohol-related crashes and write a report.

In conjunction with local chapters of Oregon Student Safety on the Move (OSSOM), the Teen Court coordinator recruits high school volunteers to teach traffic safety to elementary school students.

Community service is performed in agencies throughout the county (for example, the police department, schools, Head Start, the wastewater treatment plant).

RESULTS

Lincoln County Teen Court has successfully met the program objectives. In the first year, the court has diverted 208 youths involved in 229 offenses. The completion rate for the program is 95 percent with 100 percent of the youths receiving an assessment and referral, when appropriate, for additional services needed. The cost savings of the Teen Court is encouraging. The per case cost is about $314 at the time of disposition. A similar case handled through the traditional juvenile system costs $580. The recidivism rate is eight percent, well below the objective of 17 percent set by the program developers. The program recently was one of four programs to win an award from the Association for Community Traffic Safety (ACTS), a statewide organization.

The continuation of Teen Court is highly likely because of its success. In fact, it is now considered a county agency in its own right. However, the success of Teen Court has tempted officials to increase the caseload and expand the charges addressed beyond the original limits and capacity of the program.