Sunday, Apr. 24, 2005 | ||
Bad Links? | Teen court?Officials looking at setup for first offendersFayette court officials are pondering the creation of a separate teen court for first-time offenders charged with misdemeanors instead of sending them to regular juvenile court, officials said. The concept will be presented Tuesday night at 6 p.m. at a meeting of the Peachtree City Youth Council at City Hall, said Peachtree City Mayor Steve Brown. Offenses disposed of in the teen court would not be put on the youths record, and a jury of teen peers would determine upon the penalty consisting of community service, Brown said. I have fielded many calls from concerned parents and teenagers regarding enforcement policies in our city, Brown said. While I want Peachtree City to remain the safest community in the United States, we need the ability to extend grace towards first time youth offenders. Brown said the teen court concept has been embraced by the Peachtree City Police Department and the Fayette County District Attorneys Office. If it is created, it would be the first court of its kind in the metro Atlanta area, Brown noted. Area teens are invited to attend the meeting, which will have police and prosecutors available to introduce the program and answer any questions. Those attending include Maj. Mike DuPree of the Peachtree City Police Department, Peachtree City Solicitor Marcia Moran, District Attorney Scott Ballard and Assistant District Attorney Rhonda Kreuziger, who handles juvenile cases for the district attorneys office. |
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