BUILDING A RESTORATIVE TEEN COURT

RESTORATIVE JUSTICE Crime in our legal system focuses on a violation of law and punishment. However, when addressed restoratively, it shifts to a violation of people and relationships. Restorative Justice has shown that punishment alone is not effective in changing behavior and may be disruptive to community harmony and good relationships. The goal is to reduce recidivism of offenders with them exiting the system being more capable of being responsible and productive.

TRANSFORMING TEEN COURT Training volunteers: goal is to reinforce the idea that the purpose of sentencing is to repair the harm as opposed to punishment. Jury Process & Jury Statement: - Who has been harmed and how? - How has the defendant taken responsibility for the harm? - What can be done to repair the harm? Jury Statement of encouragement

TRANSFORMING TEEN COURT Attorney Restorative Questions: - What were you thinking at the time? - Who has been affected by what you have done? -What do you think you need to do to make things right?

TRANSFORMING TEEN COURT Parent Impact: “Your offense has impacted us as a family by destroying trust in you. What we have witnessed from you in the last couple of weeks gives us a great hope and renewed expectation in you as a person. You have gained back a lot of your trust by showing your ability to overcome and improve yourself, by being named student of the week at your school and making the honor roll. Things you could improve on, in our opinion are, learn to understand others better, showing you care for others, learn to forgive others, not let others control your actions, and be in control of your destiny.”

TRANSFORMING TEEN COURT Victim Impact: “Bullying has affected my son in so many ways. He doesn’t want to get up and come to school and he drags to get out of the car when he gets to school. He looks around to see if anyone is around before getting out of the car. He has also had trouble getting his assignments in on time. This has impacted our relationship causing conflicts between us in the mornings. I worry about his safety at school.”

TRANSFORMING TEEN COURT Rebuilding Relationships - Family Group Decision Making: the family devises a plan that protects their own welfare because families know their problems, strengths, and resources. - Families are more likely than professionals to find solutions which actively involve other family members including other family members and friends thus keeping the child within the care of the family. Example: Truancy

TRANSFORMING TEEN COURT Victim-Offender Conferencing: - involve a meeting between the victim and offender facilitated by a trained mediator. - both are given the opportunity to express their feelings and perceptions of the offense (which often dispels misconceptions they may have had of one another before entering the conference) - the meeting concludes with steps the offender will take to repair the harm suffered by the victim and in other ways to make things right.

TRANSFORMING TEEN COURT

CREATIVE RESTORATIVE PROJECTS:

CREATIVE RESTORATIVE PROJECTS Underage consumption project: Juvenile interviewed an aunt who struggled with alcohol abuse. “Interviewing my aunt caused me to view this topic much differently than before. During the interview the abuse of alcohol in America came to my head and made me realize how many close friends I have lost to drunk drivers, alcohol poisoning and other related issues. Walking out of my aunt’s new, dirty apartment I noticed the need to stay sober and live my life to the fullest without drinking or doing anything else that could harm me.”

Role of Restorative Justice in Teen Courts: A Preliminary Look American Probation and Parole Asso., focus group including OJJDP, Juvenile Acct. Incentive Block Grant Program, National Youth Court Center, and four Teen Court programs The majority of teen court programs have not implemented the elements inherent in this (balanced and restorative justice) promising approach to their full potential. The balanced approach, a new mission, requires that juvenile justice systems devote attention to making amends to victims and the community, increasing offender competencies, and protecting the public through processes in which offender, victims and the community are all active participants. Youth volunteers are exposed to a new way of thinking about justice.