Teen Court Association Of Texas Fact Sheet
The Teen Court Association of Texas
(TCAT) was organized in 1990 with 18 cities around Texas represented.
Today there are approximately 80 Teen Courts in Texas and over 1000 Teen Courts
or Youth Courts (as some are known) nation wide. According to the
Department of Justice, Teen Courts are the fastest growing juvenile delinquency
prevention programs in the country.
§
Goals of the organization include:
o
Provide continuing education to coordinators across Texas to
strengthen their effectiveness. (1)
o
Offer a forum for networking among staff members of Teen
Courts to exchange ideas and discuss issues thereby improving the
administration of their programs.
o
Educate youth. (2)
o
Foster civic engagement of youth to increase social and
emotional well-being. (3)
o
Reduce juvenile crime. (4)
o
Build coalitions to increase effectiveness and consistency of
Teen Court programs across Texas. (5)
o
Promote and publicize Teen Courts.
o
Encourage and assist in the development of other Teen Court
in Texas. (6)
Teen Court is a “hands on”
educational experience that allows for both offenders and teen volunteers a
better understanding of our system of justice.
Teen Volunteers gain an opportunity
to receive recognition and find a new level of success in an activity that is
not based on academics.
§
Teen volunteer educational programs and skills acquired
include:
o
Training in the legal process from area volunteer
attorneys
o
Developing skills in areas of problem solving abilities
(critical and strategic thinking) and an understanding of the concept of
actions having consequences. (7)
o
Training and practice in speaking before the public.
o
Training in and experience of the jury process (through
educational experience and educational seminars). (8)
o
Juvenile criminal law (through actual experience and
educational seminars). (9)
o
Internships for Teen Volunteers in adult courts.
o
Training in the values of society, leadership and character
education. (10)
Teen Court is a legally binding
alternative system of justice that offers young offenders an opportunity of
restoration and rehabilitation through community service, educational classes,
and jury performance for their offenses.
§
Teen defendant educational programs and skills acquired
include:
o
Training in the legal process (from Teen Court experience)
and concept of actions having consequences.
o
Training in the jury process (through actual experience and
educational seminars) (8)
o
Training in juvenile criminal law (through actual experience
and educational seminars. (9)
o
Youth behavior management programs and other related courses.
(11)
(1)
The Teen Court Association of Texas
conference meets annually to educate coordinators on topics such as: Bullying
and School Violence, How to identify Drug and Alcohol Use, How to Implement
Restorative and Rehabilitative Justice in Teen Court, Teen Courts and the Law,
Victim Impact Panels, Ethics and Security Issues.
(2)
Teen Defendants are educated as well
as Teen Volunteers; See Footnotes #7, 8 & 9.
(3)
Civic engagement is defined as a
program(s) targeted at community service and the acquisition of civic
knowledge. Shown to increase positive attitudes toward others and, when
paired with opportunities for civic experiences, increases subsequent civic
behaviors. Research shows that teens that are involved in volunteering
have higher rates of positive attitudes toward the future and older people,
improved attitudes toward working with others and significantly more accepting
of cultural diversity than non-participants. Source:
Childtrends.org
(4)
Year 2000 Texas was ranked 8th
highest in Crime Index. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reports
(5)
Coalitions include: National
Youth Center, Young Lawyers Associations across Texas (28), Junior Leagues
across Texas (29) and other similar volunteer organizations, Department of
Justice, Law Enforcement Officials, School Districts, the Judiciary across
Texas. “ Communities that develop an integrated approach to resolving the
issues that surround youth crime enhance their chances of reducing juvenile
crime levels”. Source: FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, March 1997, “Teen
Court”, by Sharon J. Zehner.
(6)
Teen Court Association of Texas
regularly promotes Teen Courts through their website (texasteencourt.com) and
their quarterly newsletter (The Verdict). Individual Teen Courts promote
in their city through citywide news sources & individual websites.
(7)
Teen Courts have the assistance of
adult attorneys regularly training teen volunteers on the proactical
application of defense and prosecution strategies. The State Bar of Texas
recognizes the efforts of their attorneys participating in Teen Court and
provides up to 5 hours of self study CLE’s (Continuing Legal Education)
including 1 hour of ethics. Critical thinking is defined as the
development of chohesive and logical reasoning patterns, essential in the
practice of law. Strategic thinking is defined as the ability to think
about an issue in the past, present and future and evaluate the information
critically, cohesively and creatively.
(8)
We the Jury – a program developed by
the Texas Young Lawyers Association to educate young people about the history
and evolution of the jury process and its unique significance to the American
legal system. The goal is to help teens understand the importance of
their jury performance in Teen Court and as an adult. Most Teen Courts in
Texas use this program.
(9)
Crossing the Line – a program
developed by the Texas Young Lawyers Association to educate young people about
criminal law as applies to juveniles. The goal is to help teens stay out
of trouble. Most Teen Courts in Texas use this program.
(10)
Helping to increase self-esteem and
achieve goals.
(11)
Behavior management classes
include: anger management, alcohol, drug and tobacco awareness, driving
safety, making good choices, peer pressure avoidance skills,