TEEN COURT has provided juvenile justice diversion services in Ingham County to over 250 youth per year since 2001. Youth between the ages of 11-16 who have committed an offense have their petitions reviewed and referred by the Ingham County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and Circuit Court—Family Division. When entering the program they must take responsibility for their offense (admit guilt) and participate in a variety of requirements and services that are designed to help them address risk factors, (such as negative peer pressure, underage drinking, poor school performance), that may have contributed to their poor choice, resulting in a criminal offense. Once the youth completes the peer jury’s disposition (“we the Peer Jurors think you should perform the following orders to repair the harm you caused and restore to the community what has been lost”) and other program requirements, the petition is dismissed and the youth does not incur a formal juvenile criminal record.

One of the program steps they agree to perform is appearing before a jury of their peers, who determine (a Final Disposition) how the youth can repair the harm caused to the victim and community, and what services the youth may need to achieve personal success. Annually, over 700 students are trained and serve as Peer Jurors, Bailiffs and Clerks in hearings conducted in the Cooley Law School I Lansing, and Ingham County Courthouse in Mason. These youth are recruited from eight (8) different high schools (Dansville, East Lansing, Mason, Williamston, Eastern, Everett, Sexton and Okemos) during the school year. In the summer months, youth are recruited throughout Ingham County. While they deliver a positive peer pressure message through issuing orders to hold the respondent accountable, participants are engaged in a positive way in our juvenile justice system, learning the negative impact of crime and how courts function.

The Teen Court Program receives funding from Capital Area United Way, Ingham County Juvenile Justice Millage, Mid-South Substance Abuse Commission, City of Lansing Human Services and Community Relations and Lansing Mayor’s Committee For Drug Free Youth and in kind donations from Thomas M. Cooley Law School and Ingham County Partner Schools.

TEEN COURT is a community based and highly collaborative program of Child & Family Services-Capital Area. Child & Family Services was established in 1911 as the Ingham County Branch of the Michigan Children’s Aid Society. Other programs include foster care, adoption, independent living (youth aging out of foster care), adolescent substance abuse treatment, family mental health counseling, and Angel House, an emergency shelter and advocacy center for abused and neglected children.