(Democrat and Chronicle's print edition: Speaking Out section)Being a responsible teenager is not easy. Every day, we are surrounded by pressures that urge us to conform to the ideas and convictions of our peers. Unfortunately, many of these pressures cause us to repudiate some of our values, and we can be led down the wrong path. When we make these wrong decisions, we may feel very fortunate when we get ‘let off the hook’ and do not have to suffer the consequences of our actions. However, as ironic as it may seem, getting caught is beneficial in the long run. Facing the law brings you back to reality, and it helps you realize what you did wrong and why it was wrong.
The Teen Court provides this reality check to hundreds of teens in the Rochester area every year. Founded in 1997 by Countu Court Judge Geraci, the Teen Court is a discipline program for young adults who have committed first-time, nonviolent crimes. Teens serve as court clerks, court security, prosecutors, and defense attorneys, and the defendants present their case to a jury of their peers. Sentencing involves a wide variety of disciplinary actions, ranging from community service to letters of apology. The success rate of the court is very high; 87.4% of participants complete their sentence, and less than 20% are re-arrested for violations of the law. The latter statistic attests to the true mission of the court, which Judge Geraci describes as “…to slow the system down and work with teens at risk with the goal of making their first contact with the criminal justice system their last.”
During my time observing the Teen Court, I was able to listen to two different cases. The first defendant was a junior in high school who was arrested for multiple incidents of smoking pot, and after she drove her mother’s car without a license. The second defendant was a senior who was suspended from school after repeated fights in school. While many people may look upon these teens as unruly "crominals," I believe that they should be commended for undertaking the responsibility for their actions; they made a mistake, but through the help they receive through the Teen Court, they will never make the same mistake again.
The teens arrested and brought to Teen Court are luckier than the teens who never got caught. The discipline that the system instills in the defendants transforms their character, and makes them more responsible young adults. These teens were once haunted by wrong choices, but after participating in the Teen Court, they now have a more promising future.
My visit to the Teen Court was made into a video story.
"Democrat and Chronicle Teen Council member Nick Fedyk takes a look inside Rochester Teen Court and finds a program that challenges wayward youth to get their lives back on track without sending them to jail." (Video by Jeffrey Blackwell)
Here is the link Video editorial: Teen court
