Baltimore City Teen Court has seen great success since its implementation in the fall of 1999. Hundreds of youth offenders have been diverted from the juvenile justice system and in many instances, have been "re-united" with the legal system in a positive way.
Teen Court is a voluntary alternative to the juvenile justice system that emphasizes self-accountability, community involvement and positive peer influence. It advocates for the youth who have made poor decisions and also for those youth who are interested in the law. Teen Court has trained hundreds of students to volunteer as bailiffs, clerks, jurors and attorneys during the Teen Court sessions.
The Youth Offender…
- Lives in Baltimore City
- Is 11-17 years old
- Is charged with a minor crime
- Has no more than 4 prior arrests for minor crimes
- Has a parent or guardian involved
- Must admit his or her guilt
- Lives in Baltimore City
- Completes a mandatory "Law School" training
- Attends school regularly
- Remains trouble-free while participating in Teen Court
- Has a desire to improve self and community
- Youth offenders are held accountable for their actions
- Youth offenders are guided in a positive direction without the stigma of a criminal record
- Positive peer pressure is created
- Youth volunteers learn important public speaking and critical thinking skills
- Youth volunteers earn Service Learning Hours, necessary for high school graduation
- Youth learn through their sanctions (for example, offenders are often mandated to return for future teen court sessions to serve on the jury)
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520 West Fayette St. Baltimore, MD 21201To contact us: Phone: 410.706.5360 Fax: 410.706.5576 Email: info@clrep.org