But chances are good that it will teach her a lesson. Studies of some of the roughly 800 teen courts in existence around the country indicate that the rate of recidivism — how many defendants get in trouble again — is extremely low. According to one such study, teen court programs are twice as effective in this regard as more traditional methods. Jeffrey Butts, a researcher who conducted a study of teen courts this year for the Urban Institute Justice Policy Center in Washington, D.C., thinks he knows why. Butts says that the most effective teen courts are the ones that keep adult involvement to a minimum. He thinks that it has a powerful impact on young offenders to see children their own age in positions of power and respect. Continue reading Orlando Sentinel – Court is for Teens: It’s Also for Real

“It makes a lot of sense,” said Jeffrey Butts, director of the program on youth and justice for the Urban Institute in Washington, D.C. “I haven’t heard of anyone else doing that, but it follows the general trend of locating services where the client is.” Continue reading Miami Herald – Anti-delinquency Agency Targets Zip Codes with High Youth Crime

In the Abraham case, Judge Moore had all the knowledge that he needed to make a justifiable decision, said Jeffrey Butts, director of the Program on Youth Justice at the Urban Institute. “He was the one watching the testimony. He went through all the reports and made a judgment,” Mr. Butts said. “I don’t think any of us who didn’t sit through the trial can question his judgment.” Continue reading Washington Times – Crime’s Poster Children