***MEDIA ADVISORY***

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 03, 2015

PROSECUTING ATTORNEY ANNOUNCES TEEN COURT DONATION

Media Contact: Curtis T. Hill, Jr. (574) 296-1888

Today Elkhart County Prosecuting Attorney Curtis T. Hill, Jr. presented a $2,500 donation check to Bashor Children’s Home to support their Teen Court program. According to Prosecuting Attorney Hill, “I encourage members of this community to come alongside my office and Bashor Children’s Home to support this program and help keep the teens of our community on track toward a successful future.”

Participants in the Teen Court program are referred by Elkhart County Juvenile Probation to participate in this diversion program. Local attorneys serve as judges and advise teen volunteers acting as prosecutors or defense council. Participating in Teen Court allows low-level juvenile offenders to receive consequences for their actions without going through the formal court system. For most participants, part of their “sentence” involves serving on the Teen Court jury to evaluate the actions and consequences of others.

Teen Court is currently looking for teen volunteers to participate by acting as attorneys, jury members and other roles within the court. Teen Court currently meets twice a month on Tuesday evenings. Anyone looking for more information about the program or who is interested in participating can contact Lori Harrington, Teen Court Supervisor at (574) 875-5117.

The Teen Court program is funded by participant fees and local partners. This donation is funded by the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney’s Pre-Trial Diversion division, reinvesting program participation funds back into serving the Elkhart community.

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“Under Indiana law, all persons arrested for a criminal offense are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”