Seoul Family Court introduced special teen-to-teen hearings in 2010. (image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, Apr. 14 (Korea Bizwire) — Eight teenage students wearing judge’s robes interrogated a teenage perpetrator of minor thefts at Seoul Family Court on April 13.
The perpetrator was a boy who was accused of stealing three bottles of beer and trying to steal a bicycle. The teenagers in robes asked questions about how he felt about his crime, and whether or not he would re-offend.
The eight students deliberated for 45 minutes to come up with a series of tasks for the teen to complete. Once the “sentence” was met with a judge’s approval, the troubled teen could avoid an official trial by completing the prescribed tasks.
Seoul Family Court introduced special teen-to-teen hearings in 2010 in order to give teens charged with minor crimes a chance to solve their familial and personal conflicts, which are often what drive them to commit minor crimes, by talking to their peers. For instance, the boy spoke about how he wanted his parents to tell him how proud they were of him. The teen “judges” then proposed tasks that could help the boy and his family resolve their familial issues.
Under the court’s special hearing system, 80 to 110 teens have been receiving a second chance every year. Teens who successfully complete their assigned tasks have sometimes returned to the court to participate as members of the panel.
By M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
