Since middle school, I have served as a volunteer juror, attorney and clerk in Teen Court programs in Eugene, Oregon and Gainesville. These experiences have provided me new perspectives on how adolescents can change their lives through the restorative juvenile justice system.
Teen Court programs are designed to hold youth accountable while offering an alternative to the traditional, fully adult-led juvenile justice system. Through Teen Court programs, juvenile offenders can be heard by their peers and trained adult volunteers, allowing them to reconnect with the communities they serve and inspire personal change.
My experience in Teen Court inspired me to conduct a study examining whether these programs reduce juvenile recidivism — and if so, how?
I analyzed Teen Court program data from North Central Florida and interviewed volunteers, coordinators and program participants to understand its impacts. My study found Teen Court programs play a vital role in reducing repeat offenses, and participating communities experience broader declines in youth crime.
The interviews from the study revealed one consistent, standout factor: youth civic engagement.
Teens who participated in the program — which connects them to service opportunities and local volunteer work — often felt a sense of belonging and responsibility to their communities. Volunteers and participants repeatedly said young people are less likely to reoffend when they feel valued.
In these programs, civic engagement isn’t just an activity; it is a protective factor against juvenile recidivism.
Based on my findings, I think Teen Court programs should expand beyond case resolution and intentionally partner with middle and high schools to create structured pathways for youth civic involvement.
My Teen Court volunteer experiences encouraged me to become more involved in civic work outside the courtroom. After joining Teen Court in Eugene, I founded the Youth Civic Action Network. Also known as YouCAN, the initiative is designed to unite students, neighbors and community organizations through civic engagement.
Through YouCAN and my school’s Key Club, where I serve as secretary, I have helped organize donation drives supporting homeless shelters and food banks. I’ve mobilized students to serve their communities in direct, visible ways, and I’ve reported neighborhood concerns — including potholes and fallen trees — to city officials for resolution.
Those experiences reinforced the same lesson: When young people are trusted with responsibility, they rise to meet it.
Policymakers, practitioners, city councils and school leaders should consider establishing Youth Civic Liaison Programs that connect middle and high school students with community organizations like homeless shelters, food banks, senior centers and mentorship programs.
These partnerships would help students build a civic identity while strengthening community support systems that reduce the likelihood of juvenile reoffending.
Reducing juvenile recidivism requires more than intervention after misconduct. It requires investment before repeat offenses occur.
Teen Court works because it doesn’t treat young people as permanent offenders but as future leaders. Communities should continue to create pathways for youth to build social accountability, civic belonging and long-term career success.
Youth civic engagement is about more than service; it’s crime prevention — and actions speak louder than words.
Justice Nah is an Eastside High School junior and the founder of the Youth Civic Action Network.
