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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT:
Joelise Jandric, Teen Court Program Supervisor
941-741-4027
Manatee County Teen Court Programs Expand Services
May 30, 2006-On May 8, 2006, the State Attorney's Office agreed
to expand the types of cases that can be sent to Manatee County's
Teen Court programs to include some non-violent felonies. This
decision comes as the result of a rise in non-violent felony
charges for younger and younger offenders as schools and communities
embrace stringent 'zero tolerance' policies.
Manatee County's Teen Court and Teen Court Too programs,
under the administration of the Clerk of the Circuit Court,
R.B. "Chips" Shore, have served Manatee County's
youth for the past 15 years as one of the County's few juvenile
diversion programs. Traditionally, Teen Court and Teen Court
Too took cases on a direct diversion basis from the Juvenile
Assessment Center of first-time youthful offenders who committed
a misdemeanor offense and admitted their guilt. Now the State
Attorney's Office has agreed to recommend Teen Court as a
Court-Ordered sanction for some non-violent felonies, like
possessing a pocket knife in a backpack or possession of marijuana
up to 28 grams, on a case by case basis.
"The youths who commit these non-violent felonies must
meet all the eligibility requirements of Teen Court. These
include being between the ages of 10-17, being enrolled in
school, admitting their guilt, and not re-offending. The sanctions
for non-violent felony offenses are more severe than those
of misdemeanor offenses and include 60-100 community service
hours,
6 to 10 jury duties, public/written apologies, essays, curfew/house
arrest, suspension of driver's license, programs relating
to the charge and more if the teen jury deems it necessary,"
says Joelise Jandric, Teen Court Programs Supervisor.
R.B. "Chips" Shore says, "What I love best
about our Teen Court programs is that they give good kids
a second chance. Teen Court is not an opportunity to beat
the system. In fact, if kids don't take advantage of the opportunity
that Teen Court gives them, they go right back to Juvenile
Court. And that decision will follow them the rest of their
lives."
About Teen Court
Manatee County's Teen Courts are diversionary programs designed
as early intervention to deter youthful offenders before a
pattern of criminal behavior becomes established. Teen Court
is for students in Grades 9-12. Teen Court Too hears cases
for children ages 10 years to 14 years old. Teen Court Programs
are real courtroom experiences for minors who break the law
for the first time. Youthful offenders, who have committed
selected misdemeanor offenses and some court-ordered non-violent
felonies and have admitted guilt, have their cases heard by
a jury of children their own age instead of going to Juvenile
Court. Teen Court and Teen Court Too are run by youths for
youths. Volunteer youths perform the roles of prosecuting
and defense attorneys, clerks, bailiffs, and jury. The Judge
is the only adult directly involved in the proceedings. Offenders
accept the consequences and responsibility of their actions
through community service, serving jury duties, and any other
disciplinary measures sanctioned by the Teen Court jury. Having
over 600 cases annually tried and heard by their teen peers
has saved Manatee County over $1.3 million each year by diverting
them from the juvenile justice system.
About the Clerk's Office
The Clerk of the Circuit Court was established as a public
trustee by the Florida Constitution in 1838. The Clerk of
the Circuit Court serves as the Clerk of Courts, the Clerk
of the Board of County Commissioners, Auditor, Recorder, and
Custodian of all County Funds. In Manatee County, the Clerk's
office also administers a child support enforcement program,
violence protection advocacy program, Citizens' Review and
Teen Court programs. Located at 1115 Manatee Avenue West in
Downtown Bradenton, the Courthouse is open Monday-Friday from
8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
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