Colorado Springs Teen Court Program Supports Juveniles After Minor Offense

COLORADO SPRINGS — For the past 30 years, the Teen Court program run by the nonprofit Forge Evolution has given juvenile offenders another chance to get back on the straight and narrow.

A group of teenage volunteers work together as a panel to pass sentences on minors aged 10 to 19 who commit a minor crime, such as shoplifting, using drugs or alcohol, sexting or an assault. A judge can refer a juvenile to the program if charges are filed, but the majority of teens are referred to the program by a school resource officer.

Teen volunteers work in groups of three to determine sentences after discussing the offense with the minor and their parent. Sentencing options may include community service, life skills classes, or substance abuse programs. Sarah Benavides, Teen Court volunteer and senior at Pine Creek High School, said she thought the teen panel added a helpful perspective by being able to relate to the juvenile sitting on the other side from the table.

“We kind of have a sense of what they’re going through more than some adults do,” Benavides said. “They’re really relieved to get out of it, to know that it’s not a prison sentence or it’s not this huge thing that’s going to be in their locker forever. They’re, I think, really grateful to receive lessons and resources to move on from the offense they committed.”

Youth court panels are held almost every Tuesday evening in the Colorado Springs Municipal Court building. An adult volunteer is in the room during the process to help set sentencing guidelines and to accompany the youth and parent to and from the second floor courtroom. Julie Grunwell has been an adult volunteer for Teen Court for four years and said the process is about honesty and accountability.

“They confess, they admit it, they take responsibility for what they did. Honesty is appreciated, candor is appreciated, courage is appreciated,” Grunwell said. “I think we’re all on the verge of making a bad decision that would change the trajectory or course of our lives. This particular organization gives kids a second chance early on to correct that trajectory and make good decisions.”

Barbara Furr-Brodock, director of resource development at Forge Evolution, said 10,000 children have gone through youth court since 1994, with a recidivism rate of about 7 percent. She said the program saved El Paso County $64 million last year by diverting children from the court system and conserving its resources.

“The justice system, you know, really believes in what we’re doing, and that’s why they send kids to us,” Furr-Brodock said. “When you’re young, you make unfortunate choices and being able to rectify that without having that on your record means a lot.”

She said that from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024, 60% of Teen Court participants came from low-income households. Of the 503 participants during this period, almost 40% were referred for a violent crime, 28% for drug or alcohol possession, 22% for shoplifting or theft, 5% for sexting and 5 % for property or other crimes. The majority of offenders participating in the program were aged 13 to 15.

Officer Bill Walsh worked with Teen Court for 15 years as a Colorado Springs Police Academy Resource Officer at Cheyenne Mountain High School. He said he considers the program a resounding success because of the restorative programs offered to the children.

“I think the recidivism rate has really done a good job of showing that if we can get kids into these programs before they make more serious mistakes, most of the time they can avoid these more serious mistakes and not have to return to this system.” » said Officer Walsh. “That doesn’t make their one issue, their one event, a lifelong impact.”

The Teen Court program operates through donations, grants and volunteers. If you would like to volunteer for the program, you can click here.
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