History
In 1986 the Sarasota Chapter of the League of Women Voters approached the Junior League of Sarasota, Inc. with concerns that our community was experiencing an increase in juvenile crime. The Junior League determined the concern was worth researching. Debbie McKay Gigliotti, chair of the Public Affairs Committee, realizing that minor offenders were not receiving meaningful or rehabilitative consequences thus were often re-offending, learned about an innovative youth jury program operating in Grand Prarie and Odessa, Texas that were meeting with great success. Debbie visited the Odessa Teen Court which was operated by the Junior League, returning to Sarasota with tremendous enthusiasm and optimism that the concept would deal constructively with the at-risk youth and also provide opportunities for civic engagement for the student volunteers that would choose to volunteer. Upon returning from Texas, the committee met with Sheriff Geoff Monge, Public Defender Elliott Metcalfe, and other community leaders.
After a two day symposium of all the parties involved in the local juvenile justice system, it was determined that the concept could have a positive impact on the youth of Sarasota County. In early 1988 the Junior League of Sarasota committed to support the project for three years making an annual financial commitment of $10,000 to support the operational expenses with a volunteer staff of six members and two members of the local chapter of Florida Association of Women Lawyers (FAWL). 12th Circuit Court Administrator Jack Byers endorsed the proposal, agreeing that Deputy Court Administrator Fay Rice and 12 Circuit Court Judge Paul E. Logan should travel to Odessa and Grand Prarie, Texas to observe the programs. Judge Logan, having served as a juvenile court judge, realized the critical importance and need for early intervention and diversion, committed to preside over the sessions.
Teen Court of Sarasota, Inc., a 501 (c) (3) organization, was incorporated in 1988. The first Teen Court hearings were held in December, 1988. It did not take long for the word to spread throughout Florida and Self and Gigliotti, along with students, were traveling around the state helping other communities replicate the program services. Sarasota County’s Teen Court is noted as a model prevention program by the U.S Dept. of Justice.
In 1989 a full time director was hired to coordinate and strengthen the services. With the support of the local judiciary, county commission, law enforcement, and DJJ, the services quickly became recognized as successful and the case load began to grow quickly. After five years, conclusive recidivism data was available showing a re-offense rate of 12% among first time offenders compared to 42% among youth handled in traditional juvenile court.
In 1995 Gigliotti and Self wrote a grant to the Florida Bar Foundation and were awarded $6800 to conduct a state meeting for the ten existing Teen Courts that were now operating in Florida. That meeting lead to the development of the Florida Association of Teen Courts, Inc. During that same time period the two women were working with the Florida Legislature, crafting legislation that would provide for the collection of a fee on certain traffic tickets and court costs and would be a dedicated funding source for Teen Courts. F.S.S. 938.19 was adopted by the Florida Legislature in 1996 and funds all of Florida’s Teen Courts.
By 2002 the Sarasota County’s program had a four person staff and was receiving 700 cases annually. With successful completion of sanctions resulting in dismissal of the charges instead of the stigma of a conviction, the state attorneys office and DJJ were taking full advantage of the opportunity for minor juvenile offenders which also reduced their work load. In 2002 the organization, with the goal of reducing a 33% recidivism rate among the youth that were involved with illegal substance abuse, and in conjunction with the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Dept., Teen Court secured a grant from the Gulf Coast Community Foundation to implement Camp X-RAYD-Examine Reality About Your Decisions, in an attempt to reduce the re-offense rate among that more at-risk group of area youth. The re-offense rate, as of 2011, is 16%, a marked reduction of crime by that specific population. In 2011, seeing an increase in bullying and battery cases, the staff implemented new services called CO-OP.
