Teen Court is under the umbrella of NC Cooperative Extension’s 4-H BEST program. Teen Court is a diversion/sentencing option in which youthful offenders admit responsibility for their offenses and agree to be sentenced in a court of their peers. The program is volunteer-based with middle and high school students who act as defense and prosecuting attorneys, clerk, bailiff, and jury. Adult volunteers help supervise the jurors during deliberation and conduct exit interviews wit the offenders and their families. Judges volunteer to preside in the courtroom (the only adult in the court process) and attorneys volunteer their time as attorney mentors and occasional judges. Cases are held in the Granville County Courthouse on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month unless school or holiday schedules force a change. All offenders must complete their sentences in no more than 90 days. Recidivism is low and many former defendants will return to the program as volunteers.
 
The Teen Court Coordinator has the final say on whether or not a case is appropriate for Teen Court. PLEASE do not tell families they will automatically be accepted.

 ***If a youth does not successfully complete his/her sentence, the case will be returned to you for further action. In most cases, it is our expectation that you will pursue charges.***

  General Guidelines for Referrals
 School Resource Officers, School Administrators (when there is no SRO in the school), Community Police, Detectives, Magistrates, Juvenile Court Intake, and Assistant District Attorneys (in Juvenile Court and District Court) may refer cases to Teen Court.

*All school policies are in full effect. Teen Court should be considered an alternative to traditional criminal proceedings. Also, this is not a school teen court that hears class skipping, etc.

* All possible Teen Court cases should be judged on their individual merits. Some students are appropriate for Teen Court when others charged with the same offense are not.

* The youth must admit responsibility/guilt.

* The youth and parent/guardian should be willing to go through Teen Court and complete the sentence

* The offense must be a misdemeanor.

* The youth must be between the ages 10 and 17 years of age.

* The youth is enrolled in school.

* Most youths will be first offenders. Those with prior offenses are considered on a case-by-case basis.

* Youths who are successful generally have something positive going for them. i.e. You like them and want to give them a second chance, the parents are very involved, s/he is an excellent student and the offense is out of character, etc.

* Youths must be mentally able to comprehend and participate with Teen Court.

* Drug or alcohol possession charges (no intent to distribute, etc.) are accepted. Please refer to sanction sheet for specific information.

* Possession of a weapon on campus IF the weapon is a pocketknife (not defined as a weapon by the General Assembly) can be referred.

* Undisciplined and truant youth are only accepted by referrals made from Randy Michaelson. These cases are accepted on a case-by-case basis.

* No Operators License charges are accepted when there has been no accident and the youth's license has not been revoked previously.

 How to Refer a Youth

*Once you have determined that a juvenile is eligible for Teen Court, you should:

* Contact the youth and his/her guardian. If you are a SRO, you can discuss teen court as        an option then the parents/guardian is notified of suspension and comes to the school to pick up the child.

 * Briefly explain what Teen Court is and recommend that the youth complete the Teen Court program. Give the family a Teen Court Brochure.
 
* Help the family complete the referral and read aloud the statements made by both yourself and the family to ensure that they understand what they are signing.
 
* Fax or mail the referral to the Teen Court Coordinator. Please attach a brief summary of the incident.Fax: 603-0268 , Mailing Address: PO Box 926 Oxford, NC 27565

* If you have any questions, first call the coordinator at 603-1350 or 691-3197.

* If you would like to attend the hearing, please indicate that on the referral form (see bottom of page) or by phone.

* You will be notified when a youth you have referred completes his/her sentence and are always welcome to call to find out a particular youth's sentence.