Clara Colmenero, PIO
c.colmenero@jbazmc.maricopa.gov
(602) 372-0874
Newsrooms: Video of this program can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FoLCRt2wFM
Additional B-roll footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP5KXclZ1nY
PHOENIX (June 21, 2022) – By bringing a courtroom atmosphere into the classroom, kids are learning
from hearing real-life Diversion cases involving youth. Teen Court is a program facilitated through the Maricopa County Juvenile Probation Department, part of the Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County. Teen Court youth volunteers do not determine guilt or innocence but learn about the court process by assigning consequences to hold peers accountable using established guidelines.
Teen Court is one of the Juvenile Probation Department’s Diversion program options. This option
provides a responsible and efficient pathway toward offense resolution without a formal court process
and allows youth to engage in a meaningful restorative justice practice. Participation requires an
acknowledgement and admission of the offense. In the event a youth does not wish to admit, the
Maricopa County Attorney’s Office determines if a formal delinquency petition is appropriate and the
matter is scheduled for a court hearing.
“For most of these kids this is their first and probably their last mistake,” said Juvenile Probation Officer
Gary Egbert. “In most of the cases, they were in the wrong place at the wrong time and made a poor
choice. So, we try to divert them toward the right path once again.”
Diversion Supervisor Jaime Sandoval says each student volunteer who participates in Teen Court is given
a role such as a judge, prosecuting attorney, defense attorney, jury, bailiff, clerk or victim advocate in a
courtroom atmosphere.
“The actual hearing is not to determine guilt. Kids are asking questions as to why Diversion youth
committed the offense, to help determine which consequence they will assign,” said Sandoval. “The
consequence includes offering youth services based on the reason behind committing the offense.”
Some of those consequences can be jury service, community service, tutoring, counseling or being
assigned to complete a workbook. Diversion youth are then given two months to complete the
consequence.
From August 2020 through February 2022, the top three offenses heard in Teen Court, making up 59%
of all offenses, were assault, shoplifting and criminal trespassing. Apart from the learning and
accountability benefits to the youth, the process of deflecting delinquency matters from the court
results in considerable savings to Maricopa County by avoiding legal proceedings.
“The benefit to youth is that they get a chance to keep their record clean,” Egbert said. “They get to
experience restorative justice and Teen Court helps them make amends and make things right with the
people that they’ve affected.”
Teen Court was first introduced in Maricopa County in 1994. Currently, the Juvenile Probation
Department facilitates 20 Teen Courts in 15 Valley schools and others in local municipal courts.
“It’s not a mock trial, it’s a real hearing so student volunteers learn about leadership skills because they
are running a courtroom. They also learn public speaking skills because they have to make an open and
closing statement to the jury and interviewing skills if they’re playing the role of a defense attorney,”
explains Egbert. “Once they graduate high school, they can put on their resume for college that they
were a volunteer for Juvenile Court and that could help them get scholarships or get into a college of
their choice.”
Sandoval says the goal of Teen Court is restorative justice, creating stronger teens and turning them into
future leaders in the community.
“The kids that we are most proud of are those who end up completing their Diversion program and stay
on as Teen Court volunteers because at that point we know we’ve truly made a positive impact in their
lives,” said Sandoval.
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The Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County is comprised of Superior Court, Adult Probation and
Juvenile Probation, which includes juvenile detention. The Judicial Branch in Maricopa County is the
fourth largest trial court system in the nation and, along with its 3,200 employees, is dedicated to
providing a safe, fair and impartial forum for resolving disputes, enhancing access to services, and
providing innovative, evidence-based practices that improve the safety of the community and ensure the
public’s trust and confidence in the Judicial Branch. For more information, visit
http://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov
Newsrooms: Video of this program can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FoLCRt2wFM
Additional B-roll footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP5KXclZ1nY
Contact:
Clara Colmenero, PIO
c.colmenero@jbazmc.maricopa.gov
(602) 372-0874
Newsrooms: Video of this program can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FoLCRt2wFM
Additional B-roll footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP5KXclZ1nY