Community Renewal Good Stories - Philadelphia-Camden

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Order in the Court: Teen Legal Program Tries and Teaches

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania/Camden, New Jersey, EZ

Truancy, lateness, disruption of class, gum chewing, disrespect toward staff and peers-these are all misdemeanors for which youth may be held accountable by a jury of their peers. With an initial grant of $60,000 from the Philadelphia EZ, Teen Court has been handing down verdicts at Kensington High School since 2000.

Teen Court functions as both an alternative sanction system for young offenders and a civic-responsibility awareness program. Its goals are to reduce delinquency and violence among youth, encourage positive behavior, and help students understand the legal system and the values that underlie the laws of society. "The Teen Court program is empowering the future generation of the EZ by familiarizing teenagers with how the justice systems works, encouraging their respect for others, and providing them with new skills to resolve problems," said Eva Gladstein, executive director of the Philadelphia EZ.

Offenders in grades 10 to 12 are tried and sentenced in a Teen Court by a judge and jury of their peers. Assisted by teachers and law students from Temple University, youth volunteers play the roles of prosecuting and defense attorneys, clerks, bailiffs, and managing board members and conduct trials as in real life. During the first 2 years, 40 students participated and heard 79 cases ranging from truancy to uniform violations, hall walking, profanity, and class disruption. The sentences meted out by the jury varied from suspending the offenders from school to forcing them to offer written and verbal apologies, write essays, and provide community service. June 2004 marked the start of Teen Court's fourth year.

Teen Court capitalizes on the power of peer influence and promotes civic commitment and youth empowerment. Students who participate in the program have demonstrated a depth of knowledge in courtroom procedure as well as in solutions to school problems. Students use mediation as a tool to curtail bad behavior and alter violent patterns while exercising their peer leadership roles in school.

The first Teen Court program was implemented almost 15 years ago. Today, there are more than 400 such programs operating in the United States.

For more information on the programs of the Philadelphia EZ, please contact Elinor Haiderat (215) 683-2157.