It’s far too often that defendants under the age of 21 appear on court dockets, but when Columbus County has another option out there to try to steer those kids in the right direction.
Tony Shipman is the Columbus County Teen Court Director. He graduated from Whiteville High School in 1975, and moved on to a career in law enforcement in 1980. After retiring from 37 years of service, the Durham police officer found himself back home in 2018, and overseeing court proceedings for juveniles.
The Columbus County Teen Court gives offenders ages 11 to 18 the option to have their case heard by a group of their peers instead of standing before a district court judge. In order for the case to be heard, the defendant must plead guilty to the offense prior to the hearing, therefore making it a sentencing. It’s not quite the sentencing you would think in terms of the court system, but it’s geared more toward reforming teen offenders in a constructive way.
Constructive sentences include performance of jury duty on other teen cases, performance of community service, and attending education programs and seminars. Juries also have additional sentences for teen offenders like writing apology letters to the victim or the offender’s parents, writing an essay about the incident, and participating in victim-offender mediation.
Juries are a mix of both offenders and non-offender volunteers. The non-offender participants undergo training and instruction prior to serving jury duty. Adult volunteers serve as backup bailiffs, exit interviewers, jury monitors, and judges. Teen volunteers also serve as defense attorneys, prosecuting attorneys, clerks, and bailiffs. Teen attorneys are advised to participate in Teen Court Attorney Training prior to serving on a case.
“We are always looking for volunteers, both students and adults,” said Shipman.
Teen court sessions are held every second Tuesday of the month from 5 p.m. to approximately 8 p.m. in the District Courtroom of the Columbus County Courthouse. Three to five cases are heard per night, and usually take about 40 minutes to present, have deliberation by the jury, and hand down the sentence. Offenders must be accompanied by an adult or guardian.
Just as any other case heard in the county, all court participants must sign a confidentiality agreement. The judge also issues a confidentiality oath before each hearing to everyone in the courtroom.
Offenders are responsible for completing their sentences, and are given a timeline to report back to Teen Court to provide progress reports. Court staff follow up with defendants through written reminders and phone calls. Those who choose not to complete their sentences are then turned over to another agency such as the District Court, court counselors, school resource officers, the Columbus County Sheriff’s Department, and police departments.
For more information about the Teen Court or to volunteer, contact Shipman at 910.608.8545 or by email at teencourt@columbuscounty.org.
