Almost 30 kids were sworn in to Kosciusko County Teen Court on Monday, Feb. 26. They will help determine sentencing for youths facing low-level, first time offenses in the county. Shown are the kids with Kosciusko Superior Court 1 Judge Karin McGrath.

Text and Photos
By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Kosciusko County attorney Jennifer Carnes once served on Kosciusko County Teen Court while in high school.

“It’s an impactful program,” she said.

Carnes was present Monday, Feb. 26, in Kosciusko Superior Court 1 for the swearing in of nearly 30 members of the current teen court.

The kids sworn in Monday were Warsaw Community High School, Wawasee High School, Lakeland Christian Academy and homeschooled students.

Teen Court Director Selena Nelson said there are actually 50 kids set to serve on Teen Court for the term, making them “the largest group of volunteers that we have ever had in the history of Teen Court.”

They’ve made a four-month commitment to the court, which “is an alternative to the traditional juvenile justice system for serving justice-involved youth,” said Nelson during the ceremony.

“The program is unique because it’s the only diversion program in this county,” she added. “Youth volunteers fill the roles of the courtroom and hear real cases.”

Nelson said the kids who’ve committed low-level, first-time offenses going through the court have already admitted guilt and members of teen court are merely deciding their consequences “following the restorative justice model.”

She said the benefit for those who have cases in court is “to be held accountable for their actions within the community instead of detention centers or under the supervision of the juvenile probation officers.”

“It’s also an opportunity to learn from their past decisions so their chances for a bright future are not hindered by a juvenile record,” she said.

Nelson said those on teen court get “to engage in civic and social activities that serve others in our community and they have opportunities to develop leadership skills, network and explore careers in the legal field.”

Each teen court member was presented with a pin Monday by teen court Assistant Ally Rigsby. The item symbolizes members’ commitment to maintaining their own behavior while they serve on the court and showing “respect” to those whose cases are going through it, said Nelson.

Kosciusko Superior Court 1 Judge Karin McGrath then swore in the kids to the court. Her courtroom is the one utilized for cases.

Following the ceremony, McGrath said for those who serve on teen court being “part of helping someone else be restored to the community is a really powerful thing.”

“They are learning about our justice system, but they’re being taught to think kind of outside the box (because) justice isn’t just about punishment,” said McGrath. “We’re looking for creative ways to restore the participants and to remedy that harm and to look for ways to help address the underlying issues perhaps that cause the behavior in the first place.”

Nelson and McGrath said those whose cases go through teen court are up to age 17, with McGrath noting the youngest she’s seen is nine years old.

“We’re seeing a lot of vaping, truancy, substance use,” Nelson said of offenses going through teen court.

“Occasionally some very low-level theft,” added McGrath.

Teen court members will generally go over one to two cases per meeting, which happen “once or twice a month,” said Nelson.

Meetings include a guest judge sitting in to help monitor decisions. Judges are generally local attorneys.

Current teen court members include: Elle Perkins, Deborah Cabrera, Elizabeth Vander Bie, Honey Silvestre, Brooke Bolinger, Maya Guevara, Sophia Perales, Breanna Lotz, Emily Matherson, Peri Brouwer, Dominoe Custer, Draven Blanton, Lauren Robinson-Gay, Aliah Barkey, Keegan Besson, Cayman Blake, Makia Lucas, Dayton Sibert, Jadyn Hart, Kristina Kolembe, Finley Bailey, Reese Deloe, Finn Brander, Eleanor Schenck, Mylee-Rose Jackson, Kelsey Bolinger, Jenna Miller, Micah Martin, Maya Contreras, Summit Shaw and Brooklynn Gibson.

A second swearing-in for the remaining teen court members will occur soon. Area teens still may apply to be teen court members in the current round until Thursday, Feb. 29, by emailing [email protected].