AG 1998 04 20 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Comprehensive Teen Court Plan Corporation: Cabarrus County. Mediation Center Incorporated Judicial District: 19A Fiscal Year: 1997-98 Section C: Objectives. Identify the objective(s) that Teen Court is designed to accomplish. (See the attached copy of 1993 Session Laws, Extra Session 1994, Chapter 24, Section 40). The Teen Court program will offer a resource to combat negative behaviors in middle and high · school age youth and will be open to referrals fi.om Juvenile Services, school officials, School Resource Officers and other law enforcement officers. As stated in Section D ( Program Operations and Activities ), volunteer youth from the local schools who are involved in civics-oriented classes and those involved in certain community groups will receive training in the various roles they will fulfill, such as, bailiff, defense attorney, prosecuting attomey, clerk of court, and juror. Until a specific referral plan is developed in coordination with the District Attorney's Office and the Teen Court Advisory Board and in order to develop the program slowly but systematically, the first year of operation will focus on youth under the age of sixteen. The participating offenders will have a sentence imposed by a jury of their peers after admitting guilt and after the jury has heard mitigating and aggravating factors with regard to the type of constructive sentence which should be imposed. The jury will deliberate and must come to a unanimous decision which will be then read before the Court. An adult volunteer, either a retired or practicing attorney or a retired or acting judge, will fulfill the role of the judge to help ensure the integrity of the program. The Teen Court and Youth Services Coordinator will be at the sessions to also ensure the integrity of the program. The sentences which may be imposed will be specified on a sentencing grid made available to the Page 3