Teen Court

Peer Panel

Peer Panel:

Teen Court Peer Panel is for defendants who have committed minor offenses. This procedure includes a less formal courtroom setting where the panel of student volunteers questions the defendant and then has a similar but separate dialogue with the parent or guardian. The student volunteers on the Peer Panel determine the sentence using Teen Court guidelines.

 

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Mission Statement:

To use the positive power of peer influence to stop criminal behavior at its earliest stage.

What is Colorado Springs Teen Court:

Teen Court is a unique and highly successful approach to juvenile crime.  In Colorado Springs, the program provides an alternative to the regular Municipal Court sentencing for first-time misdemeanor offenses committed by young people between 10 and 18 years of age.
The purpose of Teen Court is to hold youth offenders accountable for their actions and to assist them in making better life choices through relevant sentencing options.   Recognizing that peer influence is one of the most powerful factors affecting youth behavior, Teen Court relies on a highly-trained corps of teen volunteers to review cases, deliver sentences, and ultimately steer juvenile defendants away from self-destructive decisions toward more productive choices.