Mission

To provide quality programs, in a manner consistent with public safety, that address the needs of juveniles who come in contact with, or are at the risk of coming in contact with, the juvenile justice system.

Redmond Juvenile Services Program (JSP)

Redmond JSP is an intervention program for local youth under age 18 who have been charged with a criminal act. It is comprised of two individual components:

• Teen Court
  This program allows peers to judge first-time offenders who attend high school or middle school in the Redmond School District. The primary condition that must be met to participate in this program is admission of guilt and the offender's acceptance of responsibility for their actions.
  
  
• Diversion Program
  This component is comprised of an informal disposition hearing in lieu of formal prosecution within the juvenile department or court.

Program Benefits for the Community, Families and Individuals

• Teen Court allows youths and their families the opportunity to participate in a Teen Court process staffed and controlled by their peers. In addition, the program:
  
  
• provides local youths with the means to be actively involved in their community
• provides the opportunity to participate in and benefit from positive "peer pressure" experiences
• affords participants with the opportunity to receive hands-on knowledge of the justice system
• helps participants develop critical thinking skills
• helps youths improve communication skills
  
  
• The Diversion Program offers a means to hold youth offenders accountable for problem or criminal behaviors that are not appropriate for the Teen Court.
  
  

History

The Redmond Juvenile Services Program began in 1984 from the community's desire to provide services to youths while also holding them accountable for their behavioral choices. This was not happening in a timely manner and occasionally not at all. So, with this in mind, the Diversion Program began.

Redmond is one of the two earliest diversion programs in the state of Oregon; the other is the City of Bend's program. In the early days, the program served only first-time misdemeanor offenders. Currently it has grown to also serve second-time offenders, as well as some felony cases selected at the discretion of the County Juvenile Department and the Program Director. The primary condition for both the Diversion Program and Teen Court is the offender's admission of guilt.

Redmond Teen Court (RTC) was initiated in 1996 and was a natural extension of the JSP's Diversion Program. It came about when the City of Redmond Police Department (RPD) and JSP evaluated other Teen Court programs and decided that Redmond was ready to expand their Diversion Program.

The first judge in the RTC was Clark Brown, retired senior judge from Marion County Circuit Court. The court eventually evolved from having an adult judge to a peer judge. Except for the Program Manager, the court's staff is currently comprised entirely of peer attorneys, bailiffs, liaisons, jurors and judges. Court volunteers undergo an initial and yearly training with ongoing mentoring while working in the program. In addition, the court volunteer staff are involved in a state conference that is sponsored by the Oregon Youth Court Association.

The Redmond Teen Court provides an opportunity for youths to work within their community, gaining valuable experience while serving as a positive role influence to both youths and adults.