Pasco County
Juvenile Diversion Services
- Juvenile Arbitration
- STOP (Service Treatment for Offender Prevention)
- Teen Court
- Additional Information about Juvenile Diversion & Program Statistics
Participants in this program for first time juvenile offenders charged with a misdemeanor are scheduled for a hearing, at which sanctions are assigned. Sanctions may include restitution, a letter of apology, an essay assignment, school attendance and behavior improvements, call in to Program Coordinator, counseling assessment, community service, no association with co-defandants or victims, restitution, and/or educational classes.
The parent/legal guardian and youth will sign an Agreement that stipulates conditions for the youth to conclude before successful completion of Juvenile Arbitration.
The program offers 9 different classes, such as 3D class, Choices class, Conflict resolution class, Drug Court Ambassador Program, Funeral Home Tour, Life Skills class, Peer Pressure class, Safe and Sane Streets class, and To Catch a Thief class.
Follow-up hearings are held in six to eight weeks to determine if the offender has met the requirements for avoiding a juvenile record.
STOP is for juveniles who are repeat misdemeanor offenders, drug or alcohol offenders, and/or third degree felony offenders (exclusive of third degree felonies involving personal violence, auto theft, or the use of a weapon). It is a long-term intensive arbitration program that requires juvenile offenders to complete specified sanctions, such as community service, counseling (individual or family), school attendance and/or gainful employment, and various individualized sanctions. In most cases, fulfillment of all sanctions avoids prosecution and a juvenile record.
Certain repeat offenders are not eligible for the STOP program.
Participants enter this program through an initial hearing, at which appropriate sanctions are assigned. These sanctions include a minimum of 50 community service hours and mandatory weekly phone contact. Approximately 60 days after the initial hearing, participants also are required to attend a mid-term hearing, during which compliance with his/her sanctions is verified.
At a final hearing, the case is closed successfully if the juvenile has completed the assigned sanctions in approximately four months. When sanctions are not completed within 90 days, the coordinator has discretion to continue the case or close it unsuccessfully. The referring agency receives a final report indicating the disposition of the juvenile.
Teen Court was conceived as a way to interrupt developing patterns of criminal behavior in youths under 18 years of age. The program promotes self-esteem, motivation for self-improvement, and a healthy attitude toward authority.
In addition, Teen Court is an educational forum for non-offending teens, who are allowed to participate in the legal process, become familiar with the court system, and learn about various career opportunities.
Juveniles who admit guilt are eligible for participation in Teen Court only one time and must have a parent/guardian at all proceedings. At the hearing, sanctions are imposed by a group of the defendant’s peers. He/she is required to assume responsibility for the offending behavior and to accept the consequences or punishment set by the peer court, students from various high schools in the community.
The defendant has six weeks to complete his/her sanctions, which may include counseling, community service, essays, letters of apology, funeral home tours, and education about conflict resolution, dropout prevention, theft prevention, substance abuse/testing and pre-teen awareness. At the end of the six weeks, the defendant meets with Teen Court personnel to ensure that all assigned sanctions have been completed, earning a dismissal of his/her charge.
Teen Court volunteers are high school students who have expressed an interest in the courts, law enforcement, government, or public speaking. Student volunteers are required to take a four-hour training course provided by assistant State Attorneys, Public Defenders, and Teen Court staff. They then serve as bailiff, court clerk, jurors, prosecutors and defense attorneys at hearings, presided over by volunteers from the offices of the State Attorney and Public Defender.
- Teen Court Manual
- Teen Court Application
- 2023-2024 Teen Court Schedule - NPR
- 2023-2024 Teen Court Schedule - DC
Questions about the program or becoming a Teen Court volunteer may be directed to:
New Port Richey:
Teen Court Coordinator
Juvenile Arbitration Program/Teen Court
7530 Little Road, Room 201
New Port Richey, FL 34654
Telephone: 727.847.2411, ext 7410
Dade City:
Teen Court Program Coordinator
Juvenile Arbitration Program/Teen Court
38053 Live Oak Ave, Ste 124
Dade City, Florida. 33523
Telephone: 352.521.4405
Parents, teenagers, attorneys and other citizens with questions about the Sixth Judicial Circuit’s Juvenile Diversion programs may use the information below to contact the program coordinator’s office for Pasco or Pinellas County. (JAAP, Traffic Teen Court, Truancy Teen Court, Teen Drug Court and AIM are programs that are available in Pinellas County).
Students interested in becoming participating members of Teen Court should also use this contact information:
New Port Richey:
Teen Court Coordinator
Juvenile Arbitration Program/Teen Court
7530 Little Road, Room 201
New Port Richey 34654
Telephone: 727.847.2411, ext 7410
Dade City:
Teen Court Program Coordinator
Juvenile Arbitration Program/Teen Court
38053 Live Oak Ave, Ste 124
Dade City, Florida. 33523
Telephone: 352.521.4405