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The City Of Arlington And The Boys And Girls Club Essay

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Introduction and Background
In 1986, the City of Arlington and the Boys and Girls Club of Arlington established the Arlington Teen Court. It works in conjunction with the Arlington Municipal Court and is considered a specialized court for youth. The program was designed to prevent teens between the ages of 14 to 18, from developing a pattern of committing crimes. It aimed to reduce teen offenses, allow teens to be held accountable for their actions, and to educate teens on the justice system.
The City of Arlington Teen Court program offers first time teen-offenders who commit misdemeanors (class C) crimes an alternative to traditional juvenile courts. Some violations include driving over the speed limit, fighting in public, theft under $200.00 dollars, possession of drugs and/or alcohol, etc. The program is voluntary and it provides teen offenders the opportunity to avoid trial; thus preventing an arrest on his/her permanent record.
Stakeholders believe that teens who participate in the program will have the knowledge and skills to go on and live a productive life as a responsible adult, family member, citizen, and member of the community.
Primary clients and stakeholders involved in the program are: teens, parents, volunteers, schools the teen court coordinator Tamisha Fletcher, judges, Teen Court Advisory Board, City of Arlington officials, and the community service agencies who provide work for teens to complete community service hours. The program’s success depends on

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