LIHU‘E — Teen Court is not about punishment; it is about changing behavior. LaVerne Bishop, acting executive director for Hale ‘Opio Kaua‘i, was joined by Kaua‘i Teen Court staff members Jessie Bonachita and Esther Soloman, Judge Max Graham, who has
LIHU‘E — Teen Court is not about punishment; it is about changing behavior.
LaVerne Bishop, acting executive director for Hale ‘Opio Kaua‘i, was joined by Kaua‘i Teen Court staff members Jessie Bonachita and Esther Soloman, Judge Max Graham, who has been serving since 1995, and Teen Court volunteers Deana Shelby and David Klemer in accepting a mayoral proclamation announcing September as the 8th National Youth Court month.
Hale ‘Opio’s Kaua‘i Teen Court was started in 1995, one of the first teen courts in the nation. Since then, every state and the District of Columbia have teen courts. Research from the more than 1,700 courts shows youth courts not only reduce recidivism — repeated criminal, or antisocial behavior patterns — but foster a healthy attitude toward rules and authority among offenders, states a Hale ‘Opio news release.
“I will now step back and think about a situation before reacting,” said a youth referred to teen court. “I have learned to think of others and how I would like to be treated as a person and vice-versa.”
For an increasing number of communities in America, and now Europe, Australia, Asia and Canada, teen courts are providing a positive alternative to the juvenile justice system with significant favorable outcomes.
Youth courts address offenses that might otherwise go unaddressed until the offending behavior escalates, and reduce caseloads for the juvenile justice system, states the mayoral proclamation.
Teen courts give communities an opportunity to provide immediate consequences for first-time young offenders, states the Hale ‘Opio release. It also provides a peer-operated sentencing mechanism that constructively allows young people to take responsibility, be held accountable, and make things pono. Ninety-two percent of first-time law violators completing Kaua‘i Teen Court did not recidivate for one year.
“I will reach out for help next time and talk to an adult,” said one youthful offender.
Peer pressure, which can be a risk factor for delinquency, is harnessed in teen court to exert a powerful, positive influence over adolescent behavior, states a Peterson & Beres 2008 report.
A fundamental correlation exists between youth service and lifelong community involvement, states the proclamation.
Not all youth in teen court are there because they have been arrested.
Teen court offers a civic opportunity for youth in the community to participate — not just because they have been arrested.
Youth volunteers, numbering more than 117,310 across the nation last year, can serve as prosecutor, defender, clerk, bailiff, jury foreperson, or juror, enabling youth to gain hands-on knowledge of the juvenile justice system, learn about careers of attorneys, judges, court management and administration, social work, and even Teen Court Coordinator.
They also gain knowledge about building consensus and facilitating decision-making, learn the law along with their parents.
Volunteer service and related service learning opportunities enable young people to build character and develop and enhance life-skills such as responsibility, decision-making, time management, teamwork, public speaking and leadership while encouraging positive behavior and empowering youth to be active in their communities — traits which prospective employers value, states the proclamation.
Teen Court is about repairing the harm and renewing the youth and family commitment to make the teen years a healthy time of learning from minor mistakes and choosing to avoid major ones, the Hale ‘Opio release states.
To volunteer, make a contribution, or for more information, call Hale ‘Opio Kaua‘i at 245-2873.
