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