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In Florida, juveniles facing misdemeanor or non-violent crimes, such as drug offenses, may have the opportunity to go through Teen Court. The program offers second chances by allowing offenders to face a jury of their peers and wipe their records clean.
“Teen Court is one of Florida’s best-kept secrets,” says Stephen Willis, Juvenile Delinquency Court Manager for Polk County’s Teen Court. The program offers a faster alternative to conventional courts. Volunteers, including attorneys and bailiffs, help run the court, while judges must have law degrees.
Teen Court is a particularly resourceful and beneficial mechanism for young offenders under 18 found with marijuana possession or other drug offenses. Mr. Willis, who has 28 years in court administration experience, said the program focuses on rehabilitation. Sentences can include community service, drug testing, counseling, or jury duty as part of the expungement process.
“In Polk County, we take just about all drug-related offenses,” says Mr. Willis, especially cases involving marijuana-THC vape pens, which are felony charges in Florida.
Teen Court also helps address underlying issues, such as self-medication, that are often the cause of drug use. “We set up an appointment with the youthful offender and their family, and once that appointment is set, we meet with them and we discuss their options and then we go from there,” he says.
Mr. Willis believes sports and extracurricular activities are effective deterrents to drug use among juveniles. He also encourages parents to be proactive in checking their children’s personal spaces for hidden drugs, even if it’s uncomfortable to confront the issue.
Any drug case involving a minor goes directly to Mr. Willis’ desk, and the punishments tend to focus on preventing reoffending, with counseling, mentorship and free residential treatment as possible resources. “We tracked youthful offenders for two years, and after two years, we have seen that . . . 99% are not convicted of a second offense,” he says.
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