Teens dispense justice for peers

Teen-agers in Sisters will soon sit in judgement of their peers in a new Teen Court.

The court, which holds its first session Tuesday, September 24, sentences teens who have been cited by police into Sisters' juvenile diversion program. The court was established by the City of Sisters, the Juvenile Empowerment Team, Deschutes County Juvenile Department and the Commission on Children and Families.

"It's essentially a sentencing hearing; it doesn't decide guilt or innocence," said Kirsten Werner JET Program and Teen Court coordinator.

According to Werner, first-time offenders who are cited into the JET program for misdemeanors or Class `C' felonies can face the court of their peers. The offender must admit guilt to participate in the program; if the youth chooses to contest his guilt he or she is directed to the county juvenile department.

Six teen-age jurors sit on the court with the presiding judge who is the only adult on the court. The jurors are given legal instruction before serving and must operate under sentencing guidelines. All sentences must be unanimous and signed by the judge and teen court coordinator.

According to the court's procedures manual, sentences can include "community service hours , writing an apology letter and an essay, taking educational classes, restitution, jury duty, school requirements and any other decision that the jury makes that is a logical consequence to the offense."

Werner said that half the jurors would be volunteers aged 11-17 and half would be prior offenders who participated in the JET Program or Teen Court.

"It's a way for all the kids in the community to get involved in the issues of the community," Werner said. "Also, they get an introduction into the judicial system and how it works."

Offenders and their parents are assigned a court date at which they are required to appear or face fines and other possible consequences including referral to the juvenile department. While they are required to admit to guilt before the hearing, the offender and his or her parent can testify to mitigating circumstances.

Werner noted that the program operates under a strict policy of confidentiality that protects the identity of juvenile offenders .

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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