About

Teen Court is a real sentencing hearing for first time misdemeanor and felony juvenile offenders. Although Teen Court is a non-judicial proceeding, the sanctions decided on by the jury are binding. All proceedings are conducted by trained teen attorneys, bailiffs, and jurors. Everyone involved in the courtroom proceeding is a teenager except the judge, who is a bar-certified attorney or an actual judge. (There are adults who observe and supervise).

Volunteers and past defendants fulfilling sentences make up the jury. They watch real cases of teenagers who made a mistake in their actions and violated the laws of the United States. At the end of the trial, the jury of only teenage peers decides a just sentence for the defendant and the case.

Teen Court is one of the most utilized diversion programs in Leon County. According to recent statistics, of those juveniles who are offered a non-judicial diversion program, the State Attorney has referred 45% to Teen Court.

Teen Court is effective. Offenders who complete the Teen Court program are less likely to re-offend than those who are processed through traditional methods.

Our youth volunteers are also on the rise. On a regular basis we have over 35 youth attending to serve as Jurors, Attorneys, Bailiffs, Clerks and Videographers.