Transforming Teens: Measuring the Effects of Restorative Justice Principles in a Teen Court Setting

• Date: 01 September 2013
• Author: Heidi Zapp,Kenneth Laundra,Keyria Rodgers
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/jfcj.12012
• Published date: 01 September 2013

Transforming Teens: Measuring the Effects

of Restorative Justice Principles in a Teen

Court Setting

By Kenneth Laundra, Keyria Rodgers, and Heidi Zapp

ABSTRACT

This paper examines the impact of restorative justice principles in a teen court

setting. Specifically, our research attempts to quantitatively measure learning of

certain restorative justice principles through the teen court process by comparing

matched, pre- and post-survey responses to questions involving the adolescent’s

ability to understand their crime as a violation of relationships within their commu-

nity, as opposed to merely a violation of law. Qualitative responses regarding the

efficacy of the teen court program from both teen participants and their parents are

also examined in the context of restorative justice principles. Finally, the efficacy of

the teen court model is discussed in terms of recidivism rates compared to teens who

do not experience the teen court process.

INTRODUCTION

Since the mid-1980s, the paradigm shift in criminal justice known as “restorative

justice” (Van Ness, 1986; Zehr, 1990) has been increasingly the subject of criminological

study, and has been increasingly employed in a wide variety of innovative programs for

youthful offenders (Bonta et al., 2002; Butts & Buck, 2002; Butts & Harrell, 1998; Friday,

2003; Pearson, 2003; Van Ness, 1990; Van Ness & Strong, 1997). This shift is occurring

in the context of relatively high recidivism rates among both adult and youth offenders

despite ubiquitous “get tough” legislation. This legislation is founded primarily in a

Kenneth Laundra, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Millikin University, specializing

in the areas of delinquency, crime and deviance, and environmental sociology. He obtained his Ph.D. in

Sociology at Utah State University with an emphasis in juvenile delinquency, an MA in Sociology from

Central Michigan University, and a BS in Psychology from Michigan State University.

Keyria Rodgers is the Director of the Teen Court program in Decatur, IL, and adjunct instructor at

Millikin University.

Heidi Zapp is an undergraduate student at Millikin University majoring in Sociology.

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Juvenile and Family Court Journal 64, no. 4 (Fall) 21

© 2013 National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges