Teen Court Helping Youth Have a 2 nd Chance

1. Welcome on Behalf of Judge Chief Hentz McClellan, Judge Brantley Clark, and ADR Director Carol Dunaway Teen Court Helping Youth Have a 2nd Chance

2. 21 New Clerks - Partners with Courts to Face Opportunities of Tomorrow -3 -2 -2 -1 2- Kyle Hudson 2- -1 1 -2 Carla Hand 2 2- 1- Teen Court-Helping Youth Get a 2nd Chance in the 14th Circuit

3. Remember John, we will come back to John at the end of our presentation • 2007 Arrested for Resisting An Officer Without Violence Age 17 Teen Court-Helping Youth Get a 2nd Chance in the 14th Circuit

4. Overview of Today’s Presentation What is the Teen Court Mission Teen Courts in Florida, 14th Judicial Circuit, and Bay County Teen Court Structure - Staff, Advisory Board, Volunteers, Participants Funding to operate Teen Court and Annual Budget Partners that contribute to success of Teen Court How the Bay County Teen Court Program Operates & Steps to Successfully Completing the Program Success rate for those Youth who Successfully Complete the Program Annual Recognition - Christmas Party & Awards/Appreciation Banquet Issues facing Teen Court Summary & Questions and Answers Teen Court-Helping Youth Get a 2nd Chance in the 14th Circuit

5. Teen Court Mission A staff and volunteers dedicated to diverting 1st time Offenders, charged with Misdemeanor Crimes, to aprogram that offers, upon successful completion, an alternative to Juvenile Court, Expunction of the charge from their record, and the legal authority to “deny or fail to acknowledge the charge/arrest” (fs 943.0582) from their record. Teen Court-Helping Youth Get a 2nd Chance in the 14th Circuit

6. Review Teen Courts In Florida/14th Circuit Teen Court Programs in Florida are supervised, staffed, funded, and operated differently - one size does not fit all - even within a circuit such as the 14th Circuit. It is what works best for each county! 56 of the 67 Counties in Florida have Teen Courts. 11 Counties (16%) have the opportunity to develop a Teen Court Program. They are: Franklin f. Liberty * k. Wakulla Glades * g. Levy Hamilton h. Madison Hardee *i. Putnam Lafayette j. Union * *New Clerks The 6 Counties in the 14th Circuit are supervised, staffed, funded, and operated differently - as you can see in our 6 Counties the supervising entity varies; However we do have a Circuit Judge Allen Register, Administrative Juvenile Judge, who works with Court Administration and each County’s Teen Court Program to insure communication and any issues that might arise. Other options for supervision can be the Clerk or Sheriff to be the supervising entity. Bay - Court Administration Jackson – Non-Profit Gulf/Calhoun - County Judges Washington - Director/Board Holmes - Non-Profit, Board, Sheriff, Clerk, $65 fee . Teen Court-Helping Youth Get a 2nd Chance in the 14th Circuit

7. Today’s Presentation will Focus on the Bay County Teen Court Program Oversight - Chief Judge, Juvenile Judge & Court Administration Dedicated Staff - Suzanne Cox, Director & Randy Jordan, Assistant Director Advisory Board Members - SA, PD, LEO’S, Civic Club Representatives, and Private Citizens Adult and Youth Volunteers - Attorney’s, Private Citizens, and Students who participate in the Teen Court each Tuesday. *ADULT VOLUNTEER HOURS 2013 - 207 HOURS *YOUTH VOLUNTEER HOURS 2013 - 376 HOURS TOTAL VOLUNTEER HOURS 2013 583 HOURS Teen Court-Helping Youth Get a 2nd Chance in the 14th Circuit

8. Funding and Budget to Operate the Bay Teen Court Program 1. Florida Statute 939.185 allows for funding of Teen Court Programs • The statute allows the County Commission to approve an ordinance which asses a fee of $65 (Court Innovation fund) imposed by the Court on Misdemeanor or Criminal Traffic Offenses. Bay County Commission approved the ordinance under the statute. • The $65 Court Innovation fund is split four (4) ways - 25% to fund Teen Court Program, Law Library, Legal Aid and Innovative Court Programs (Courts). • The Bay County Teen Court Program annual budget averages $106,000. $65 fee had been generating revenue to cover annual budget - 2008 the BOCC in Bay County began subsidizing the Teen Court Program. This Indicates support and confidence in the program. • Operating cost per day for a Youth in Teen Court vs. Other Options - PAY NOW OR PAY LATER! a. Cost/Day to carry a youth in Bay County Teen Court $3.62 based on 325 youth (2011) for 90 days and expenses of $106,000. b. Cost/Day for Jail Incarceration - $50.79/day c. Cost/Day for Juvenile Detention - $239.00 (Pre disposition cost paid by the BOCC) Teen Court-Helping Youth Get a 2nd Chance in the 14th Circuit

9. Partners with Bay County Teen Court are the Life Blood of the Program the Life Blood of the Program Clerk/Staff - Overall support to the Courts including $65 fee collection Board County Commissioners - Financial State of Florida – Insurance - Liability/W/C on participant and AB&T referrals Public Defender - Referral/Review/MOU State Attorney - Referral/Review/MOU Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) - Referral/Review/MOU Law Enforcement Officers - Sheriff, Police Departments, FHP, Referrals, Community Service and Liability Insurance for Officers supervising Community Service County Agencies - Bay County Jail - Jail Tour, Medical Examiner’s Office – M.E. Tour Civic Clubs - Advisory Board and Awards/Appreciation Banquet financial support Private Citizens - Advisory Board Business/Professional - Volunteers for Court night Staff - Dedicated to the Youth, Parents, and the success of the program Chief judge, administrative juvenile judge, court administration staff Teen Court-Helping Youth Get a 2nd Chance in the 14th Circuit

10. How the Bay County Teen Court Operates & Steps to Successfully Completing the Program Referrals Referring Agency To provide you with an idea of the program activity let’s begin by reviewing the Bay County Director’s Report to the board dated July 25, 2013 Referrals for 2013: 227 (Annualized 334) Teen Court-Helping Youth Get a 2nd Chance in the 14th Circuit

11. How the Bay County Teen Court Operates & Steps to Successfully Completing the ProgramBay County Director’s Report to the board dated July 25, 2013 - Continued Charges Teen Court-Helping Youth Get a 2nd Chance in the 14th Circuit

12. Steps to Successfully Completing the ProgramDesigned to be very structured, accountability by Youth, Parents/Guardian, and certain steps not completed dismissed from the program. The average period to complete 90 days. Staff pick up affidavits or receive via email from DJJ, SAO and all local LEO’S Run background checks-in house, DJJ, Clerk Log - In Teen Court Database - Case/Personal Information, Court Date, Homework Packet Date Defendant File Developed Send out intake appointment letter - To Youth, Parent/Guardian, Questionnaire Teen Court-Helping Youth Get a 2nd Chance in the 14th Circuit

13. STEPS TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING - CONTINUED Intake Appointment - Collect questionnaire, explain program, homework packet, drug test, consent forms, and set court date Homework Packet - Required completion - 27 page packet due Friday prior to defendant going to court on Tuesday Defendant Notebook provided - 51 page Defendant Notebook explaining program and calendars to log assignments, due dates, and appointments Homework Packet read and approved - If the homework packet is turned in late or incomplete, the defendant’s case is closed as ineligible and the case is sent to DJJ for prosecution in Juvenile Court Court - Defendant/Parent/Guardian arrive @ Teen Court Office 4:00 p.m Court Proceedings Jury Deliberation Verdict and Sanctions Open Court Apology to Parent/Guardian Signing of contract with Defendant, Parent/Guardian - Lists all sanctions required Teen Court-Helping Youth Get a 2nd Chance in the 14th Circuit

14. Teen Court-Helping Youth Get a 2nd Chance in the 14th Circuit

15. STEPS TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING - CONTINUED Log Sanctions Writing Assignments - Communication and Life Skills Questionnaire, Jail Tour Questionnaire, Essay on how Jail Tour affected youth and Apology Letters Presentation - A defendant may be sanctioned to give 15-20 minute Presentation to a Youth Program Curfew - Week/60 days (except for School, Church, and/or Escorted by Parents) House Arrest - Week/60 days (except for School, Church, and/or Escorted by Parents) Teen Court-Helping Youth Get a 2nd Chance in the 14th Circuit

16. STEPS TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING - CONTINUED • Community Service – Defendants are required to perform Community Service Hours. These hours are supervised by Teen Court staff doing lawns for the elderly/disabled and hospice patients, non-profit organizations and schools. 2086 Community Service Hours have been worked by Defendants in 2013. • Jail Tour - Mandatory Sanction for all Teen Court Defendants • Communication and Life Skills Session - All Teen Court Defendants and their Parents/Guardian are required to participate in this one time 3 hour Session. This Session deals with Communication Issues and other subjects that relates to the Parent/Child relationship. Session conducted at the Teen Court Office. • Jury Duties - Defendants receive 2-4 Jury Duties for a single charge excluding drug charges. Drug charges carry a minimum of 4 to a maximum of 6 Jury Duties. • At the completion of the program, the defendant can apply for a Juvenile Diversion Expunction through FDLE (FS 943.0582) and have the legal authority to deny or fail to acknowledge the charge/arrest. Teen Court-Helping Youth Get a 2nd Chance in the 14th Circuit

17. SUCCESS RATE FOR SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING THE BAY COUNTY TEEN COURT PROGRAM A three (3) year recidivism study shows that if a child successfully completes the Bay County Teen Court Program 84.3% did not reoffend within one year of their completion date. Teen Court-Helping Youth Get a 2nd Chance in the 14th Circuit

18. ANNUAL RECOGNITIONCHRISTMAS PARTY & AWARDS/APPRECIATION BANQUET Annual Christmas Party from 4:00 - 6:00 allows youth, parents, volunteers, partners to attend. The Advisory Board funds the event with the help of volunteers. Annual Awards/Appreciation Banquet attended by over 200. There is a guest speaker, recognition, and awards presented to youth, participating volunteers/agencies, and recognition for those groups who fund the banquet. In addition a college scholarship is awarded each year to the volunteer. At last month’s banquet Nicole Fischer was presented a $1200 scholarship to attend GCSC to become an EMT. Nicole volunteered over 500 hours to Bay County Teen Court over the last 4 years. Since 1999 $19,500 in scholarships to Gulf Coast State College (GCSC) have been presented. Teen Court-Helping Youth Get a 2nd Chance in the 14th Circuit

19. Issues facing Teen Court Funding Volunteers - Adult/Youth Program changes from State Agencies Succession within Agencies with Program Knowledge/Understanding Teen Court-Helping Youth Get a 2nd Chance in the 14th Circuit

20. Summary Bay County Teen Court is one example of a successful Teen Court Program in our Circuit. We have others in our Circuit that are just as successful with the local Judges, Director/Board, Non-profit, Sheriff, or School Board directing. There are countless other successful programs throughout the state. The important point is they have a Teen Court helping youth have a 2nd chance. I encourage you as a new clerk if you do not have a Teen Court Program take the lead and begin a program. If there is one volunteer and get active. Teen Court-Helping Youth Get a 2nd Chance in the 14th Circuit

21. What a second chance has achieved? Why because there may be a John in your community that needs a 2nd chance. Remember John when he was arrested he was 17, he is currently 24, attended GCSC “Criminal Justice Corrections Standards” and started working at the Bay County Sheriff’s Office Jail 2009. He is now a K-9 Officer. John also speaks to the youth while they are on the Jail Tour about his time in Teen Court and how it gave him a 2nd chance. Teen Court-Helping Youth Get a 2nd Chance in the 14th Circuit

22. Questions/Answers ? Teen Court-Helping Youth Get a 2nd Chance in the 14th Circuit