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<br />Ten Years of Teen Court Benefits Offenders, Students and Community <br />th <br />On April 1, West Eugene’s Teen Court held its 10 anniversary hearings. The West Eugene and Bethel Teen <br />Courts provide an option to first-time offenders, age 12-17, to be judged by their peers. The court is operated by <br />student volunteers who learn communication and decision- <br />making skills and gain insight into the legal profession as <br />they act as a case presenter, defendant advisor, or jury. <br />The students, local attorneys, judges, and UO law students <br />have volunteered more than 10,000 hours to West Eugene <br />Teen Court over the past 10 years. <br />The court hears cases involving violations and nonviolent <br />misdemeanor crimes, such as shoplifting, trespassing, or <br />criminal mischief. The offender must admit guilt to the <br />charge to receive a hearing and sentencing in Teen Court. <br />The sentencing can include a letter of apology, restitution, <br />community service, or a written assignment. As part of any <br />sentence, all defendants must serve on at least one future <br />Teen Court jury. <br /> <br />Bruce Steinmetz, who has administered Eugene’s Teen Courts for 12 years, says having youth peers determine <br />the penalties is very powerful. A study by Lane County found that the Teen Courts do a better job of preventing <br />youth from repeating their crimes than other types of juvenile proceedings. Recreation Services Division Manager <br />Craig Smith said Eugene’s Teen Court is a prime example of how Recreation programs cross over from <br />educational and leadership opportunities into community social services. The Lane County report estimated that <br /> <br />the efficiency of the Teen Courts produced a $325,000 savings in local social services over two years.For more <br />information, contact Bruce Steinmetz at 682-6376. <br /> <br />Eugene Public Library Hosts “Beads Around the World” <br />International bead expert Jamey Allen will visit Eugene on Saturday, April 11, to present a <br />fascinating and beautifully illustrated talk on the history of beads and bead identification. <br />Says Allen, “Bring your mystery beads!” The talk will begin at 3:00 p.m. at the Downtown <br />Public Library, and is co-sponsored by Harlequin Beads & Jewelry. Admission is free. <br /> <br />A lifelong artist, Allen has studied and created with beads for more than 40 years. His <br />specialties are organic materials, art glass beads, and the altering of certain kinds of stone <br />beads. The author of many articles and books on beads, Allen has traveled and lectured worldwide. He is a <br />Consulting Curator at The Bead Museum in Arizona, a founding member of the Northern California Bead Society, <br />and a co-founder of the Society of Bead Researchers. For more information, contact Eugene Public Library at <br />(541) 682-5450, www.eugene-or.gov/library. <br /> <br />NEXT WEEK <br />4/6 M Noon CP Housing Policy Board McNutt Room <br />4/7 Tu 5:15pm GB Human Rights Commission 833 Willamette <br />Street <br />4/7 Tu 6:00pm Tu Joint Meeting of Eugene and Springfield Springfield City Hall, <br /> City Councils and Lane County Planning 225 Fifth Street <br />Commission <br />4/8 W Noon All Council Work Session McNutt Room <br />4/8 W 1:15pm AO, GP, BT IGR McNutt <br />Room <br />4/9 Th 5:30pm GB, MC Police Commission McNutt Room <br /> <br />UPCOMING <br /> <br />4/13 M 5:30pm All Council Work Session/URA McNutt Room <br />4/13 M 7:30pm All Council Meeting/URA Council Chamber <br />4/15 W Noon All Council Work Session McNutt Room <br />4/20 M 7:30pm All Council Public Hearing Council Chamber <br />4/22 W Noon All Council Work Session McNutt Room <br />4/27 M 5:30pm All Council Work Session McNutt Room <br /> <br />EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 <br />April 2, 2009 <br />