Salem Community Gives New Momentum to Teen Court Program

Program leaders say there was only a 2 percent recidivism rate during the 2004-2005 program year

The Boys & Girls Club encourages the community to get involved in the Teen Court program.

(SALEM) - The Boys & Girls Club of Salem will host a luncheon on Tuesday to get local community members involved in the Marion County Teen Court program.

Kari Bean with the Boys & Girls Club says the event will focus on recognizing supporter of the program, inform the community of the positive impact the program has had on the community, and seek their support to keep the program alive.

The program gives first-time offenders the opportunity for a positive and constructive outcome from a negative experience and promotes a healthy attitude towards authority and the legal system.

Ninety-two percent of offenders successfully completed their sanctions in the 2004-2005 program year.

Non-offenders are also enriched by the program.

They are provided a first-hand experience of how the legal system functions and an opportunity to communicate and resolve problems with their peers more effectively.

"Teen Court has been a great experience for me. I learn about new and different laws each time I go. It has been very enjoyable," said David Garcia, Volunteer Bailiff.

Teen Court is a collaboration between the Boys & Girls Club, Salem Family YMCA, Salem Police Department, Marion County Juvenile Department, Willamette Valley Inns of Court, and the Marion County Bar Association.