Roosevelt Roosevelt

HighHighSchoolSchool

Teen CourtTeen Court

Teen Court PhilosophyTeen Court Philosophy Teen Court is a form of Teen Court is a form of restorative justicerestorative justice. Under this . Under this

philosophy, victims, their families, and the community are philosophy, victims, their families, and the community are seen as the recipients of harm caused by an offender. seen as the recipients of harm caused by an offender. Restorative justice Restorative justice has roots in Native American community has roots in Native American community healing practices.healing practices.

Teen Courts are rooted in the belief that the students who Teen Courts are rooted in the belief that the students who volunteer to participate as jurors, clerks, and bailiffs, and volunteer to participate as jurors, clerks, and bailiffs, and the juvenile offender will benefit from participation.the juvenile offender will benefit from participation.

The premise is that a juvenile offender will not continue The premise is that a juvenile offender will not continue delinquent behavior after participating in a judicial process delinquent behavior after participating in a judicial process in which a jury of their peers determines that he/she in which a jury of their peers determines that he/she violated the law and recommends an appropriate violated the law and recommends an appropriate consequence.consequence.

Typical Offenses Youth Typical Offenses Youth Courts will AcceptCourts will Accept

Percentage of Youth Courts that Accept this Type of OffensePercentage of Youth Courts that Accept this Type of Offense

Theft 91%Theft 91% Vandalism 76% Vandalism 76% Alcohol 73% Alcohol 73% Disorderly Conduct 73% Disorderly Conduct 73% Assault 67% Assault 67% Possession of Marijuana Possession of Marijuana

60% 60% Tobacco 59% Tobacco 59% Curfew Violations 50% Curfew Violations 50% School Disciplinary 45%School Disciplinary 45%

Traffic Violation 39%Traffic Violation 39% Truancy 39% Truancy 39% Trespassing 38% Trespassing 38% Criminal Mischief 30% Criminal Mischief 30% Possession of Drug Possession of Drug

Paraphernalia 24% Paraphernalia 24% Other drug offenses Other drug offenses

20% 20% Harassment 21% Harassment 21% Fraud 8%Fraud 8%

Statistical Data from National Youth Court Center www.youthcourt.net

The Los Angeles ModelThe Los Angeles Model Honorable Superior Honorable Superior

Court Judge - Jose Court Judge - Jose Sandoval serves as the Sandoval serves as the Volunteer Judge at Volunteer Judge at Roosevelt HighRoosevelt High

Student volunteers Student volunteers take on the roles of:take on the roles of:

• JurorsJurors• Court ClerksCourt Clerks• BailiffsBailiffs• Interpreters Interpreters

Student interpreter assists Spanish speaking parent.

A Fair Trial A Fair Trial Los Angeles Teen Court Los Angeles Teen Court

does not require that does not require that minors admit guilt.minors admit guilt.

Jurors are responsible Jurors are responsible

for weighing evidence, for weighing evidence, the minor’s version of the minor’s version of the incident and their the incident and their credibility to determine credibility to determine guilt and/or guilt and/or sentencingsentencing. .

Judge Sandoval listens intently to respondent charged with battery on

school property.

Guilty? Guilty? Minors come to court to court

either admitting guilt either admitting guilt or with an explanation or with an explanation of their innocence. of their innocence.

The teen jurors must The teen jurors must ask questions and ask questions and gather enough gather enough information to render a information to render a verdict and/or verdict and/or recommend a fair recommend a fair sentence.sentence.

Judge Sandoval and Judge Wesley give teen court jury pool pre-trial

instructions.

SentencingSentencingJurors are encouraged to be Jurors are encouraged to be creativecreative when when sentencing offenders, yet they are given the sentencing offenders, yet they are given the

following suggestions.following suggestions.

1.1. Letter(s) of ApologyLetter(s) of Apology

2.2. Curfew / AssociationCurfew / Association

3.3. Counseling / TutoringCounseling / Tutoring

4.4. Community Service (min. 10 hrs.) (max. 120 hrs.)Community Service (min. 10 hrs.) (max. 120 hrs.)

5.5. Jury DutyJury Duty

6.6. EssayEssay

7.7. Incarceration or fines are not allowed. Incarceration or fines are not allowed.

Superior Court Collaboration Superior Court Collaboration with GRPwith GRP

The Roosevelt High School Teen Court is the The Roosevelt High School Teen Court is the newest program in Los Angeles and is a result of newest program in Los Angeles and is a result of partnership between the Court, the Mayor’s Office partnership between the Court, the Mayor’s Office (GRP), Probation Dept. and the LA school district.(GRP), Probation Dept. and the LA school district.

Any minors who are picked up in the GRP area will Any minors who are picked up in the GRP area will be flagged for GRP services including Teen Court. be flagged for GRP services including Teen Court. Minors who attend Roosevelt will be referred to Minors who attend Roosevelt will be referred to Wilson High School’s Teen Court. (This is done to Wilson High School’s Teen Court. (This is done to prevent jurors from knowing the defendant).prevent jurors from knowing the defendant).

GRP services are offered to Teen Court defendants GRP services are offered to Teen Court defendants even after the mandatory 6-month probation even after the mandatory 6-month probation period for Teen Court participants ends. period for Teen Court participants ends.

Teen Court Provides Teen Court Provides Students & CommunityStudents & Community

1)1) A better understanding of the juvenile justice system. A better understanding of the juvenile justice system.

2)2) A better understanding of recurring delinquency A better understanding of recurring delinquency problems among juveniles.problems among juveniles.

3)3) An intimate look at the judicial system. An intimate look at the judicial system.

4)4) Exposure to careers in law/court related professions.Exposure to careers in law/court related professions.

5)5) Exposure to the serious consequences of juvenile Exposure to the serious consequences of juvenile delinquency.delinquency.

6)6) A meaningful role in helping restore the community. A meaningful role in helping restore the community.

Teen Court Provides the Teen Court Provides the Juvenile OffenderJuvenile Offender

The opportunity to have their verdict of guilt or innocence, The opportunity to have their verdict of guilt or innocence, and if applicable, their sentence decided by people in their and if applicable, their sentence decided by people in their own peer group as opposed to an adult judge. own peer group as opposed to an adult judge.

Offers a convicted juvenile offender the incentive of having Offers a convicted juvenile offender the incentive of having no record of a criminal conviction if the sentence imposed is no record of a criminal conviction if the sentence imposed is completed within a six month period. completed within a six month period.

If the juvenile offender fails to comply with the conditions of If the juvenile offender fails to comply with the conditions of informal probation for the entire six month period, the informal probation for the entire six month period, the offender is transferred back into the traditional juvenile offender is transferred back into the traditional juvenile justice system for adjudication. This informal probation, early justice system for adjudication. This informal probation, early intervention program is authorized by Welfare and intervention program is authorized by Welfare and Institutions Code Sections 236 and 654.Institutions Code Sections 236 and 654.

Roosevelt High Teen Roosevelt High Teen Court Kick-OffCourt Kick-Off

On May 24, On May 24, 2006 Mayor 2006 Mayor Antonio Antonio Villaraigosa Villaraigosa kicked-off our kicked-off our first Teen first Teen Court session Court session at Roosevelt at Roosevelt High School.High School.

Mayor Villaraigosa addresses the audience at the inaugural session of the Roosevelt Teen Court.

Case # 1 - Petty TheftCase # 1 - Petty TheftOn March 11, 2006, At approximately On March 11, 2006, At approximately

8:09pm. A loss prevention officer 8:09pm. A loss prevention officer observed the minor and her two observed the minor and her two companions taking selected items from companions taking selected items from the various display racks and tables. the various display racks and tables. All three suspects enter the fitting room All three suspects enter the fitting room and exited the fitting room without the and exited the fitting room without the items. The minor and her companions items. The minor and her companions were detained after they exited the were detained after they exited the store without purchasing the items. store without purchasing the items.

DispositionDisposition

80 hours of community service. 80 hours of community service. Curfew between the hours of 6:00pm and Curfew between the hours of 6:00pm and

6:00am.6:00am. Cooperate in an individual and/or family Cooperate in an individual and/or family

counseling program. counseling program. Write a letter of apology to J.C. Penney. Write a letter of apology to J.C. Penney. Attend 5 Teen Court sessions at Roosevelt H.S. Attend 5 Teen Court sessions at Roosevelt H.S.

for 3 hrs. of community service credit for each for 3 hrs. of community service credit for each attendance. attendance.

Future Partnerships & Future Partnerships & InnovationInnovation

Roosevelt High SchoolRoosevelt High School

Hollenbeck Middle SchoolHollenbeck Middle School Stevenson Middle SchoolStevenson Middle School Public Counsel of Los AngelesPublic Counsel of Los Angeles Los Angeles Center for Law & JusticeLos Angeles Center for Law & Justice Los Angeles School Police Explorer ProgramLos Angeles School Police Explorer Program

Los Angeles CountyLos Angeles County

One Teen Court per Judicial District and, eventually, Teen Courts One Teen Court per Judicial District and, eventually, Teen Courts at every major high school.at every major high school.

Stopping Hate and Delinquency by Empowering Students Stopping Hate and Delinquency by Empowering Students (SHADES).(SHADES).

Model for future collaboration with gang reduction efforts.Model for future collaboration with gang reduction efforts.