Hancock County hearing spotlights effort to revive Teen Court for 11–18-year-olds

Hancock County commissioners on Jan. 9 heard a presentation from a Brooke Hancock Family Resource Network representative about restarting a Teen Court program to provide peer-based diversion for youths charged with low-level offenses.

The presenter, who identified herself as Brandy and said she works for the Brooke Hancock Family Resource Network, told the commission the Teen Court would serve youths ages 11 to 18 and handle cases such as truancy, shoplifting, running away, minor possession and some traffic offenses. "Team court serves youth from 11 to 18 years old," she said, and said youths could use the program only once every two years.

The presenter described Teen Court as trauma-informed and said the program offers alcohol- and tobacco-education options depending on the charge. She described the structure as peer-driven: student jurors and student attorneys participate, and a volunteer lawyer serves as the judge. She said the program provides "positive peer pressure" and helps reinforce self-esteem and motivation.

Commissioners and staff said the commission had previously approved a funding mechanism for Teen Court: an additional $5 added to certain fines to fund the program. The presenter said the program is not currently operating and that the magistrate's office must begin collecting the additional fee for funding to be available. A commissioner suggested the presenter obtain the commission's records showing the prior approval to take to the magistrate's office.

The presenter also said juvenile mediation had been defunded and that Teen Court had been put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic; she described the current effort as an attempt to rebuild the program in Hancock County and later present it to Brooke County as well.

No formal action or vote to restart Teen Court occurred at the Jan. 9 meeting. Commissioners offered procedural assistance and encouraged the presenter to bring documentation to magistrate staff and county offices during business hours.

Funding/status details: the presenter said (1) the commission previously approved a $5 add-on to fines to support Teen Court; (2) the program is not currently operating; and (3) the magistrate's office must implement collection of the fee for funding to be available. The commission did not take a new vote or set a deadline for the magistrate to begin collections.

Next steps noted by commissioners included providing the presenter with access to county records of the prior approval and, if needed, help contacting the magistrate's office to confirm fee collection procedures.