May 25, 2010
Financial and Success of Teen Court Examined by Huntington City Council
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Two heavy hitters spoke at council’s request on the first reading of the proposed Teen Court --- Greg Puckett, who oversees all teen courts in WV, and William Smith, superintendent of Cabell County Schools.
Puckett heads the WV Teen Court Association and is also a member of Mercer County’s Drug Free Community Support program. He told council that Mercer County began their teen court project with a grant, but, then, when the grant funding ran out had to develop another funding source. Legislators then passed a statute allowing counties and municipalities to add $5.00 to non-parking violations to fund teen courts.
Currently, WV has nine operating teen courts. Among them are Monongalia County, Mason County, Logan County, Wyoming County, Doddridge County and the municipality of St. Albans. Raleigh County expects to have their teen court running by the fall. (For details on these courts, visit: http://www.wvteencourtassociation.org.)
Among the advisors to West Virginia’s teen courts are: Mike Lacy, WV Probation Office WV Supreme Court; Jason Carlson, Jason Metzgar, and Leslie Boggess WV Division of Criminal Justice Services; Angie Saunders, WV Supreme Court of Appeals; Lisa Bruer, WV Division on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse; Charles Brown, WV Probation Office, and Don Chapman, WV Department of Education.
(Click here to visit the National Association of Youth Court Associations: http://www.youthcourt.net/content/view/95/38)
Puckett said that the $5.00 fee generated approximately $24,000-28,000 in a small county such as Mercer and $37,000-$43,000 in the larger Monongalia County.
When asked about statistics from the already existing Teen Court’s in West Virginia, Puckett stated that each county has collected their own independent data and is thus subject to skewing.
Council member Nate Randolph had asked for data on recidivism (i.e. percentage of former prisoners who are rearrested. Puckett told council his educated estimate would be “ pretty much even.”
(Editor’s Note: Depending upon statistics relied upon, the nationwide recidivism rate for adult offenders in the United States is about 67.5% with 44% of the re-arrest occurring in the first year. Visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recidivism for an initial summary of statistics. Most adult criminals began their criminal records when they were juveniles.)
Cabell County School Superintendent William Smith told council , “I’m in favor of the teen court.” He explained for serious in school offenses a student is brought before the Board of Education for a hearing. “This is a formal setting and we tend to see non-repeat [offenders],” Smith stated.
The Teen Court would fill a gap --- covering offenses for which teens might receive a slap on the wrist which does not necessarily get their attention.
Mark Bates, vice chairman of Huntington City Council explained that those placed in the Teen Court setting will “see the seriousness of the process. This is not a free ticket to get out of trouble. They are going to have to do community service.”
A volunteer adult judge would oversee the hearing which would be held in a courtroom setting. Besides a jury of their peers, the “attorneys” would be teens also.
“We are not looking at violent offenses,” Bates explained, citing such examples as a curfew violation or skipping school. “They might previously get a smack on their wrist and sent on their way.”
Underscoring the importance of intervention before offenses become serious, Huntington Police Chief Skip Holbrook explained, “If we can turn the tide early, it is an effective program. Obviously, [council] agreed that it is an outstanding program.”
Councilwoman Frances Jackson indicated that retired Cabell County judge D.B. Daugherty ran a teen court in the 1970s. Judge Daugherty indicated that it was a successful program, Jackson said.
Tim White, who coordinates the Weed and Seed program in Huntington called it a “win/win” situation where we can “make a difference earlier.”
Councilman Scott Caserta told council, “I fully support your efforts to give children one more chance.”
Aside from the fiscal aspects of the program, council inquired about whether other municipalities in Cabell County would join the program.
“We’re confident once passed here, those communities (i.e. Barboursville, Milton) will get on board,” White told council.
United Way of the River Cities will act as the fiscal agent for the Teen Court program. At this time, they contemplate a part-time coordinator.
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Financial and Success of Teen Court Examined by Huntington City Council
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Two heavy hitters spoke at council’s request on the first reading of the proposed Teen Court --- Greg Puckett, who oversees all teen courts in WV, and William Smith, superintendent of Cabell County Schools.
Puckett heads the WV Teen Court Association and is also a member of Mercer County’s Drug Free Community Support program. He told council that Mercer County began their teen court project with a grant, but, then, when the grant funding ran out had to develop another funding source. Legislators then passed a statute allowing counties and municipalities to add $5.00 to non-parking violations to fund teen courts.
Currently, WV has nine operating teen courts. Among them are Monongalia County, Mason County, Logan County, Wyoming County, Doddridge County and the municipality of St. Albans. Raleigh County expects to have their teen court running by the fall. (For details on these courts, visit: http://www.wvteencourtassociation.org.)
Among the advisors to West Virginia’s teen courts are: Mike Lacy, WV Probation Office WV Supreme Court; Jason Carlson, Jason Metzgar, and Leslie Boggess WV Division of Criminal Justice Services; Angie Saunders, WV Supreme Court of Appeals; Lisa Bruer, WV Division on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse; Charles Brown, WV Probation Office, and Don Chapman, WV Department of Education.
(Click here to visit the National Association of Youth Court Associations: http://www.youthcourt.net/content/view/95/38)
Puckett said that the $5.00 fee generated approximately $24,000-28,000 in a small county such as Mercer and $37,000-$43,000 in the larger Monongalia County.
When asked about statistics from the already existing Teen Court’s in West Virginia, Puckett stated that each county has collected their own independent data and is thus subject to skewing.
Council member Nate Randolph had asked for data on recidivism (i.e. percentage of former prisoners who are rearrested. Puckett told council his educated estimate would be “ pretty much even.”
(Editor’s Note: Depending upon statistics relied upon, the nationwide recidivism rate for adult offenders in the United States is about 67.5% with 44% of the re-arrest occurring in the first year. Visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recidivism for an initial summary of statistics. Most adult criminals began their criminal records when they were juveniles.)
Cabell County School Superintendent William Smith told council , “I’m in favor of the teen court.” He explained for serious in school offenses a student is brought before the Board of Education for a hearing. “This is a formal setting and we tend to see non-repeat [offenders],” Smith stated.
The Teen Court would fill a gap --- covering offenses for which teens might receive a slap on the wrist which does not necessarily get their attention.
Mark Bates, vice chairman of Huntington City Council explained that those placed in the Teen Court setting will “see the seriousness of the process. This is not a free ticket to get out of trouble. They are going to have to do community service.”
A volunteer adult judge would oversee the hearing which would be held in a courtroom setting. Besides a jury of their peers, the “attorneys” would be teens also.
“We are not looking at violent offenses,” Bates explained, citing such examples as a curfew violation or skipping school. “They might previously get a smack on their wrist and sent on their way.”
Underscoring the importance of intervention before offenses become serious, Huntington Police Chief Skip Holbrook explained, “If we can turn the tide early, it is an effective program. Obviously, [council] agreed that it is an outstanding program.”
Councilwoman Frances Jackson indicated that retired Cabell County judge D.B. Daugherty ran a teen court in the 1970s. Judge Daugherty indicated that it was a successful program, Jackson said.
Tim White, who coordinates the Weed and Seed program in Huntington called it a “win/win” situation where we can “make a difference earlier.”
Councilman Scott Caserta told council, “I fully support your efforts to give children one more chance.”
Aside from the fiscal aspects of the program, council inquired about whether other municipalities in Cabell County would join the program.
“We’re confident once passed here, those communities (i.e. Barboursville, Milton) will get on board,” White told council.
United Way of the River Cities will act as the fiscal agent for the Teen Court program. At this time, they contemplate a part-time coordinator.
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