Peers may hold the fate of guilty Kentucky teens; State ponders changes in punishment FINAL Edition

Teen Court would not decide guilt, only design a sentence. Likely offenders would be teenagers who admitted to crimes such as shoplifting, alcohol or drug offenses, criminal trespassing, some traffic violations, minor assaults and other misdemeanors. The teenage jury and lawyers would have a range o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Gazette (Montreal)
Main Author Hassert, Dan
Format Newspaper Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Montreal, Que Postmedia Network Inc 25.02.1992
Subjects
BURLINGTON, Ky
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Summary:Teen Court would not decide guilt, only design a sentence. Likely offenders would be teenagers who admitted to crimes such as shoplifting, alcohol or drug offenses, criminal trespassing, some traffic violations, minor assaults and other misdemeanors. The teenage jury and lawyers would have a range of sentences to choose from, including restitution, community service, a return to Teen Court as a participant, alcohol evaluation and counselling, and other educational programs. Crimes punished with jail time wouldn't be sent to Teen Court, organizers said. Officials needn't worry that teenagers would be too easy on the defendants, said Deborah Williamson, director of law-related education in Kentucky. Statistics from Texas - one of three states in which Teen Court exists - show just the opposite, she said.
ISSN:2370-1676