Source: (2004) Juvneile and Family Court Journal. Winter (2004):25-33.
Teen courts are on the increase throughout the United States. These courts
provide an opportunity for youth offenders to receive sentences from their
adolescent peers rather than from an adult panel or judge. Yet, we know
very little about the teen jurors’ perspective or whether their sentences
reflect restorative justice principles. In more than 100 youth juror surveys,
teens describe their experiences as they develop sentences consistent with
restorative justice tenets. Through their participation, youth jurors gain
practical knowledge about and respect for the judicial system. The efficacy
of the sentences is validated by high offender sentence completion. (author’s abstract)
Your donation helps Prison Fellowship International repair the harm caused by crime by emphasizing accountability, forgiveness, and making amends for prisoners and those affected by their actions. When victims, offenders, and community members meet to decide how to do that, the results are transformational.
Donate Now