As crime skyrockets in many communities, people are finally beginning to look for long-lasting effective answers to stem the tide of juvenile crime. Reaching the youth who have committed a crime before they become{{U}} (1) {{/U}}is an essential step in reversing the crime trend. One{{U}} (2) {{/U}}may be the establishment of teen court. Teen court is known as a sentencing court for youths who have{{U}} (3) {{/U}}. Teen courts primarily deal with first-time offenders. After arrest, the young offender must{{U}} (4) {{/U}}to the charge in juvenile court. With{{U}} (5) {{/U}}, the offender agrees to be sentenced and abide by the decision of peer jury{{U}} (6) {{/U}}. Another essential component to teen court is that, as part of the sentence, the offender must sit in on one of more future peer juries to{{U}} (7) {{/U}}for other offenders. For example, a county teen court in Illinois gives young offenders a chance to{{U}} (8) {{/U}}their arrests from their permanent record by{{U}} (9) {{/U}}or other duties ordered by the court. Teen court is not a trial court. All teens admit their guilt and{{U}} (10) {{/U}}a sentence given to them by a jury of their peers. A judge is present to{{U}} (11) {{/U}}of the court. The teen court alleviates the strain on the{{U}} (12) {{/U}}and has been implemented in{{U}} (13) {{/U}}since the first teen court opened in Odessa, Texas. Beside giving the offender a second chance, it gives the youth{{U}} (14) {{/U}}in the judicial process.
The purpose of the teen court, aside from sentencing youth offenders, is to{{U}} (15) {{/U}}both the offenders and the teen volunteers while simultaneously promoting{{U}} (16) {{/U}}between defendants, the community, and the police. By offering this{{U}} (17) {{/U}}system, teen court allows those teens who have made a bad decision an opportunity to{{U}} (18) {{/U}}and learn from it. At the same time those teens learn{{U}} (19) {{/U}}. The police, the community, and the{{U}} (20) {{/U}}.