POINT PLEASANT — Mason County will hold its first teen court trial on Tuesday, Dec. 8.

The trial is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. and will take place in the Mason County Courthouse. Prior to the trial, there will be refreshments served in the lobby. Information also will be provided to anyone interested in volunteering for the program as well as those who wish to provide community service opportunities.

According to Greg Fowler, director of the Mason County Family Resource Network, the public is encouraged to attend the event.

“Please attend and show your support of this worthwhile community initiative to steer first-time youth offenders in the right direction,” he said.

After receiving approval from local municipalities and the Mason County Commission, the Mason County Teen Court was established. According to Fowler, students from Point Pleasant High School, Wahama High School and Hannan High School participate in the court.

Teen court is a legally binding alternative system of justice that offers young offenders opportunities to take responsibility for the offense through community service, essays, apologies and jury duties. The cases heard in teen court systems are real cases and have real criminal offenders tried by the court. In addition, through teen court, teenagers are given the opportunity to learn about the legal system firsthand by acting as attorneys, clerks and jury members.

“The main purpose of teen court is to provide an opportunity for first-time offenders. If a teen and parent choose to go to teen court then they are required to serve on the jury two times,” Fowler said, adding that teen court cases will not go on the juvenile defendant’s record.

Teens that participate in teen court will be defended and prosecuted by volunteer teens. According to Fowler, teen court allows teens to be held accountable for their own actions by completing consequences. The program also provides an educational awareness of good citizenship and the criminal justice system.

“The success ratio of teen court is 98 percent — 98 percent never go back,” Fowler said.

According to Fowler, teen court is a rapidly expanding alternative to the juvenile justice system for teenagers who have committed first time, non-violent offenses. Statistics show that youth who participate in the program do not return to the criminal justice system as a repeat offender. The system reduces court backlogs and provides the offender with an outlook to confront the consequences of their actions without having it on their permanent record.

Teen court is currently in operation in several West Virginia counties. Funding support for teen court has been provided by the West Virginia Senate, in Senate Bill 114, Article 5 (4)(d). The bill allows for counties and cities to fund a teen court program by adding $5 to the court costs incurred for written violations in that county. The Mason County Commission has approved a $5 fee and has been collecting fees for the past nine months. Fees have also been approved by Point Pleasant, Mason and New Haven.

For more information on the Mason County Teen Court, contact Fowler at 304-593-0072 or e-mail teencourtcoordinator@gmail.com.