ORANGE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE : A Jury of Their Teen Peers

There is a different kind of circuit judge in Orange County these days, riding not from court to court but from one Santa Ana high school to another in a worthwhile program to have teen-agers put pressure on other teens to stay out of trouble.

The county’s Juvenile Court and Probation Department began the Peer Court program last December. Superior Court Judge James P. Gray travels to a high school and impanels a jury of teens to judge another youth. The jurors decide the guilt or innocence of those accused of relatively minor offenses and set the punishment, so long as it does not involve jail or fines.

Two days ago, for instance, a 17-year-old who was smoking a marijuana cigarette when he was arrested and who had a history of marijuana and alcohol use was sentenced to 35 hours of community service. He was also ordered to stay at home every other weekend, stay in school, get a job and stay away from drugs and gang members.

Peer Court began in Texas 12 years ago and has been tried elsewhere in California. Orange County officials saw its record of success and wisely decided to try it here. In Los Angeles, a judge said fewer than 4% of the Teen Court participants wind up back in the juvenile justice system. The return rate for minor offenders sent to other diversion programs, such as counseling and community service, is 10%.

If Orange County’s program works out as well, it can help reduce crime and keep the courts a bit less crowded. It also offers youthful offenders the chance to listen to their peers and straighten out their lives.