The St. Johns County Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller runs the Teen Court program in compliance with St. Johns County Ordinance 2005-86. This program is built on the idea young people who commit criminal offenses are less likely to re-offend if judged and sanctioned by a jury of their peers.
In Teen Court, a jury of teens doesn’t decide if a person is guilty or not—they only give a fair sentence to help the offender make better choices. Before the case is presented to a jury, the juvenile offender must admit and agree to participate voluntarily. This program is available to first time offenders who have committed misdemeanors and non-violent felony offenses. If the offender completes their sentence, they can move forward without having a criminal record.
Partners: A successful Teen Court program requires support from local government partners and service providers to give juveniles the necessary resources. Program partners include:
- St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office
- Office of the State Attorney, 7th Judicial Circuit
- Department of Juvenile Justice
- Epic Behavioral Health
- The Hanley Foundation
For more information, email TeenCourt@stjohnsclerk.com.
