Statement Of Purpose: The Teen Court Program

I believe that teen court is a very helpful program that gives juveniles who committed a crime a second chance to get back on their feet so they don’t have a horrible record behind them.

As surprising as it may sound, I have been doing community service since the sixth grade and it is a new experience each time. It all began with a community clean up known as 'Keep McAllen Beautiful' as we got there everyone seemed excited to be there. It was beautiful to see such unity inside of my community, and I decided from then on that I would like continue helping out where it is needed. As I joined the National Honor Society my chances of providing my services increased, and I decided that I would assume a position of leadership when needed. I became the society's president, which allowed me to develop my time management skills, creativity, and efficiency. I organized an fundraiser for the hurricane Harvey disaster victims where all

As soon as I entered the class, there was a man sitting in our class. His name was Paul Shapiro, and he was from the Orange County Courts. He explained to us what the community court is, and what kind of effect it has on our society. During mid-1980s, crack cocaine was widespread and people kept going back to prison. To cut this infinite loop of incarceration, Orange County made the drug court. It is not like a real court, but rather similar to a program that helps drug addicts free themselves from drug dependence. Unlike other courts, the prosecutor, the attorney, the probation officer, and the judge in the drug court work as a team.

As an intern at Juvenile Service Department, I work with the CCP and JASS programs. I am responsible for getting in contact with the youth and family to schedule appointments for services. I conduct the intake assessments, and Youth Level of Service assessment to see which services will be effective for the

Especially when I saw their expressions beside me as they received their verdicts. It was especially difficult when it my clients were students who went to my school that had committed the offense. Throughout my five years, most people would expect to become desensitized to the teenagers who undergo teen court. After all, I have represented more cases involving underage drinking and possession of marijuana than I wish to admit. However, it is just the opposite. I empathize with my clients more than ever. Underneath the exterior of the crime, these kids are generally good people who had a moment of weakness in succumbing to peer pressure or making one bad decision. I have realized that faltering once does not denote future occurrence. I do agree that every offense must face a consequence. However, my perception whenever I step into that courtroom is not to seek punishment, but

“It helped me realize I was not around the right crowd and got me on the right path for my future,” states Emmalyne Sheridan, a current WVU freshman and experiencer of the teen court process. Teen courts are legally binding, sentence based courts for first time low-level juvenile offenders that aim to build character instead of issuing punishments. These courts consist of juveniles holding positions such as clerk, prosecuting and defence attorneys, bailiff, and the jury. The entire process is completed with little adult involvement resulting in an almost completely teen run system. Some may argue that these programs are useless and just delay the process of actual teen reformation, but this is not the case. Teen court programs should be established and utilized in all jurisdictions because of their use of reform over punishment, influence, and establishment of a future pathway.

I have a natural knack for the study of law. I enjoy inventing and improving systems and I love children. During my internship with the Juvenile Court Institute, I was able to take an in-depth look at the juvenile justice system. I was surprised at the overwhelming number of juveniles in the justice system. I was inspired by the volunteers that stood to make a difference in the children's life. I was also inspired by the judge's ability to choose a program that would rehabilitate the children, instead locking them up and throwing away the key. The question that I walked away with was, "What can we do to prevent the children from ending up in the system in the first place?" The court system has many programs to help the children and parents

Working with the Capital Area Teen Court Program, I represent local teens convicted of minor crimes. The experience has been cathartic. I learn about my clients' lives and passions, and I stand in a courtroom and defend them before a jury of peers. Volunteering as an attorney has improved my communication skills and prepared me for a future in appellate law where I hope to use the legal system to help the voiceless. I want to become a lawyer and one day, I hope to sit on the Supreme Court as an advocate for those who cannot help

The Teen Court program of Seminole County is where I volunteer as an attorney. I could be either a prosecutor or a defense attorney for the teen offender. In both jobs, I am to defend or prosecute a defendant based on facts from only a sheriff report. When I am a defense attorney, I am there to question and soothe the defendant and his or her parents, as most of the times they are nervous and defensive, respectively. During the interview with the defendant, I uncover any facts that could help the defendant’s case during the trial, and explain to the defendant the format of the trial. I alternate between defense and prosecution every week. In prosecution, it is expected that I could build case against the defendant with only information from

The subject I chose to write about is juvenile incarceration, and its effect on society. This subject has been of interest to me since I became an employee of the Los Angeles County Office of Education, a government agency which operates educational facilities for incarcerated youth in Southern CA.

Teen courts on the other hand specialize in handling youths in a juvenile setting. The evidence on the effectiveness of teen courts are mixed as well, many studies shows improvement

Teen Court is a program where teenagers experience the journey of lawyers or juries and determine the future of their peers, who have broken a law. As punishment, the defendant will be given a tour of the Juvenile Hall, in hope of intimidation bestowed upon them, which will result in them never wanting to return. As part of the jury, one may wonder how frightening this tour is and if so, how effective is it. In the Juvenile Hall, juvenile delinquents contain leverage amongst their peers along with the community they live in, in both positive and negative ways.

Community Service has always been a major part of my life; however, after I raised

I want to start my career in the Juvenile Justice System. I want to become a Juvenile probation officer. I have had an interest in this field since I first worked at they Boy’s and Girls club back in 2012. I worked there for two years. I was able to interact with youth from all different backgrounds and cultures. Living in the city of Brockton there are mainly two pathways for youth either you going a sport and continue with it till you graduate HS or join the streets and start the gang life at a young age. Working with the youths from my city made me gain a broader perspective of these two paths ways and how the two differ from each other. As a Brockton community member I want to help those who took the wrong path in life and help them achieve

One of my earliest community service experiences was a trip to Feed My Starving Children when I was 13 years old. The trip was for my mother’s work and she brought me along. Before going through with the service I only expected to pack some food for a couple hours, be bored, and then leave tired. To my surprise the activity was exciting and enjoyable. Everyone was talking to each other and even some singing and dancing occurred. The friendly environment showed me that service can actually be fun. While I was tired from moving food for a few hours, I had the warmest feeling surging through me at the end. Learning that only a couple hours of work resulted in kids having food to last a year was extremely rewarding. I loved the experience and had