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Bossier teen court turns lives around

There's something about being a teenager that makes a person feel invincible. Kevin Nolten, 25, of Bossier City felt that way growing up.

"At 16, there's that mindset of 'I'm free' and 'nobody can touch me' because mom and dad are there to protect you," Nolten said.

However, it took a split second to snap him back into reality; he was ticketed for running a red light.

"I was in high school. I didn't have any money," Nolten said.

Because of that ticket, Nolten went to Teen Court and said it went from being a negative experience to one of the best in his life.

The Bossier Parish Teen Court program began in 2001 and allows teen volunteers to act as jurors, defense attorneys and prosecutors in real juvenile court cases.

Teen Court hears cases involving simple battery, traffic violations, theft, disturbing the peace, truancy, trespassing and possession of alcohol or tobacco.

Defendants in the court cases must be between the ages of 13 and 16, a first time offender, admit they are guilty, have a misdemeanor offense and must agree with a parent to participate in the program.

Once the criteria is met, teens have their day in court. The process works similar to the way adult court does; a volunteer adult attorney serves as the judge while teen volunteers serve the roles of bailiff, clerk, juror, defense attorney and prosecuting attorney.

Each attorney is given the opportunity to question the defendant and make their case for how he or she should be sentenced. Once the prosecution and defense attorneys make their final arguments, the case is left up to the jury.

Sentences are based on each individual case and range from community service to defensive driving.

Pat Faulkinberry, Teen Court Director, said the program has a 96 percent completion rate and, in some cases, has prevented repeat offenses. Though the participants are young, Faulkinberry said the consequences are real.

"It makes them the responsible ones. The parents aren't just going to pay a fee for their mistake," Faulkinberry said. "Ultimately, they are being held accountable for their own actions."
For volunteers, the benefits of the program go beyond public speaking and critical thinking skills.

Rachal Cox began volunteering with Teen Court as a sophomore at Airline High School. Now, Cox is finishing her last semester of college at LSU-Shreveport and has hopes to attend law school in the future.

"I've wanted to be a lawyer since I was 10," Cox said. "There's a lot more to being a lawyer, but it does give you the opportunity to persuade your peers and gives you the simple knowledge of how the courtroom works."

Cox recalled the first time she volunteered with Teen Court and how it made an impact on her life.

"It was terrifying," Cox said. "The first few times it is scary, but the one thing Teen Court has helped me with public speaking. Most of the time it's a full courtroom and it can be overwhelming, but the more you do it the more you become familiar with it and adjust to it."

Cox said there have been many advantages to spending time in Teen Court.

"It's been so applicable to things like interviews and speaking to crowds. Just volunteering and getting involved in the community is worth it too," Cox said.

Teen Court has opened numerous doors to international opportunities for Cox. This summer, Cox was one of four college students who spent a month teaching debate in Afghanistan.

"We taught workshops at five different colleges then held a debate tournament and had them all compete against each other," Cox said. "It was a huge cultural difference, but it was an amazing experience."

Cox is also the recipient of the Rotary Club Ambassadorial Scholarship, which she said is valued at $27,000. According to the Rotary Foundation website, the Ambassadorial Scholarships program is the foundation's oldest and best-known program used to further international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries and geographical areas.

Cox said during the application process, she selected Amsterdam, Greece, India, France and Australia as her international study locations. Upon graduating college, Cox said she will spend a year peaking at international Rotary Club meetings and potentially some volunteer work as well.

If it weren't for Teen Court, Cox said she would have never had these opportunities.

"I never, ever thought I'd be doing all this. I envisioned college, law school and graduating all while staying in Louisiana," Cox said. "I've been presented with great opportunities and I definitely think Teen Court has had a huge impact on that."

Bossier Parish Teen Court sessions are held at 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at the Bossier City Court, located at 620 Benton Road. For information, call 318-629-1050.