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Teen Court awards scholarship to Ben Perry




From the left: Mikel Williams (board member), Judge David R Howard (Sumner County Juvenile Court Judge), Ben Perry (scholarship recipient) and Denise Bentley, (executive director Tennessee Youth Courts). SUBMITTED

From the left: Mikel Williams (board member), Judge David R Howard (Sumner County Juvenile Court Judge), Ben Perry (scholarship recipient) and Denise Bentley, (executive director Tennessee Youth Courts). SUBMITTED

The Tennessee Teen Court Program Inc. Board of Directors recently awarded the Mary Ann Williams scholarship.

 Ben Perry, a graduate from Merrol Hyde High School was the recipient. Perry’s overall grade point average is 4.0.  He plans to attend Duke University.  During his Teen Court career, he has served as juror and attorney. 

Teen Court program provides juveniles, who are first time offenders, an opportunity to face a jury of their peers. These peers are students who live or attend a school in Sumner County and have completed 14 hours of intense training, which is provided by local attorneys and other volunteers. 

The juvenile offender will have a separate hearing held where their peers fulfill the roles of the courtroom.  The jury will then make the appropriate sanctions for the crime.  The Juvenile Court Judge, Magistrate and Youth Services Officer will determine who will be granted this opportunity.

Teen Court’s purpose is to intervene early in delinquent or unruly behavior while providing an educational forum for first time offenders in the community. 

 

 

Sumner County Teen Court currently has over 50 members from all over the county who devote their time to the program. As of March, 2010, there were over 1,050 youth court programs in operation in 49 states and the District of Columbia. 

Sumner County holds the distinction of being the first in Tennessee to follow the statute established by the State Legislature in 2000.  Sumner County Teen Court has processed over 400 cases since the first case in April 2002.  In a society where teens are often considered the cause of problems, Teen Court will continue to allow them to be a part of the solution 

Tennessee Teen Court Program Inc. is a non-profit organization that provides scholarships for seniors in the Sumner County Teen Court Program. 

If you would like more information regarding this program or about making donations please contact Tammy Kellogg, Director of Teen Court and Judicial Assistant at 615-451-6035, tkellogg@sumnercountytn.gov

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