Teen court grant program

Miami-Dade Economic Advocacy Trust's mission is to ensure the equitable participation of Blacks in Miami-Dade County's economic growth through advocacy and monitoring of economic conditions and economic development initiatives in Miami-Dade County. Business owners can get help with tools to foster economic growth in Targeted Urban Areas. Teen Court allows juveniles who have committed a first-time misdemeanor to permit other minors to decide their sentencing. The Economic Development Action Committee focuses on heightening the awareness of critical issues that impact the economic vitality of the Black community. The purpose of the Housing Advocacy Committee is to discuss issues that impact affordable housing availability in Miami-Dade and come up with solutions. The Youth Action Committee takes a holistic approach in providing needed resources and information to underserved communities.

Capital Area Teen Court. Phone: Teen Court is a non-profit program that gives first-time youthful offenders, between the ages of 9 and 17, a second chance; yet holds them fully accountable for their actions. Misdemeanor offenses, such as larceny, simple assault, affray, property damage, drug possession, alcohol possession, and others are heard in Teen Court. The defendant must stand before a jury of their peers, plead guilty to the offense and accept the sanctions imposed by the jury. The only participating adult is the Judge, who is a licensed Attorney or actual presiding Judge. The program is based on the philosophy that a youthful law violator is less likely to continue to be a repeat offender when a jury of their peers decides the appropriate punishment.

Youth court diversion programs are intended to offer an alternative to the traditional juvenile justice system and school disciplinary proceedings. Typically, youth court offenders are first-time offenders between ages 11 and 17 who have been charged with misdemeanor or status offenses, with offenses including theft, vandalism, disorderly conduct, assault, and possession of marijuana. Additionally, youth courts have been used to handle school disciplinary issues, underage drinking, and tobacco possession cases Youth Courts: An Empirical Update and Analysis of Future Organizational and Research Needs , Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention-Sponsored,

Attention Teen Court Volunteers! Teen Court is a diversion program offered to first time juvenile offenders in which they admit to their involvement in the offense and agree to have their case heard before a peer jury of Teen Court student volunteers in a court setting. The judges, which include Circuit, District, and Special Appeals judges, volunteer their time and are present to answer legal questions and set the tone for the courtroom. Using Teen Court guidelines, the jury decides the appropriate disposition which includes mandatory community service hours, appropriate educational programs, and may include essays, apology letters, or Teen Court jury duties. If the juvenile offender respondent completes the assigned disposition within 60 days, the original charge is dismissed and will not appear in the juvenile's record.