Committed To: Rebuilding Relationships – Repairing Harm – Problem Solving – Building Capacities – Accountability – Personal Responsibility – Public Safety
Teen court is a unique process that incorporates teens, victims, and the community in a new form of ” Restorative Justice”. The model encourages personal responsibility and program activity, such as, holds teens accountable for their actions; having to explain their actions in front of a jury of their peers takes courage. “What happened?”, who or what harm was caused and determining who needs to do who needs to do what to repair the harm is providing participants with the tools needed to restore the community and individual victims what is lost.
History
The Lansing Teen Court Program became fully implemented on April 10th, 2001. The program was established through a collaboration committee under the auspices of Mayor David Hollister's Drug Free Youth Task Force. The 30th Judicial Circuit Court Officials and other judicial officials throughout Ingham County support the program's development and implementation. In October 2008, Lansing Teen Court merged with and became a program of Child & Family Services. Young first-time offenders who have committed a minor offense appear before their peers and receive sentences that might include community services, letters of apology, restitution, or counseling. Each youth participant must admit their guilt, appear during a hearing presided over by the Ingham County Judicial Official or Cooley Law School Professor.
Teen Court Peer Juror Post-Program Survey Data Summary January - December 2009
What did you like most about your volunteer experience with Teen Court?
| Helping my peers and making a difference | 109 |
| Being on a jury and learning about the court system | 277 |
| Hearing the families' stories and deciding consequences | 45 |
| It was interesting, education, and/or fun | 62 |
| Data Missing | 39 |
Funding Partners
- City of Lansing, Human Relations and Community Services - $20,000 - July 1, 2009-June 30, 2010
- Cooley Law - In-Kind Office Space, Court Rooms, Volunteer & technical assistance
- Mid-South Substance Abuse Coalition - $39,000 - October 1, 2009 - September 30, 2010
- Ingham County Juvenile Justice Millage - $28,250 - January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
- Capital Area United Way - $34,650 - April 1, 2010 - March 31, 2011
- Lansing Mayor's Committee for Drug Free Youth - $5,000 - July 1, 2001 - June 30, 2011
- Power of We Capacity Program Grant - $20,469 - March 25 - September 28, 2009
- Greater Lansing C.U. Golf Committee - $16,669 - September 18, 2009
- School Districts - Provide access to student volunteers and transportation support
(517) 882.4000
