A Guide for Implementing Teen Court Programs. The use of alcohol and drugs, drinking and driving, and other risk-taking behaviors are serious issues that face today's young people. Every year, the age at which children must confront negative peer pressure and make crucial decisions gets younger, and the consequences of bad decisions can be significant for them, their victims, and the community.
Adolescence is a pivotal stage of human development.
Sound guidance and meaningful learning opportunities during this time will help youth become responsible and productive citizens. Therefore, adolescents should be a primary focus of prevention and intervention efforts at Federal, State, and local levels. The Role of Teen Courts in the Justice System Teen courts, also called peer and youth courts, represent an alternative approach to the traditional juvenile justice system. Teen courts are seen as an effective intervention in many jurisdictions where enforcement of misdemeanor charges is sometimes given low priority because of heavy caseloads and the need to focus on more serious offenders. Teen courts also present communities with opportunities to teach young people valuable life and coping skills and promote positive peer influence for youth who are defendants and for volunteer youth who play a variety of roles in the teen court process.