In an effort to reduce the rate of crime among adolescents and prevent young offenders from becoming habitual lawbreakers, the City of Lancaster has operated Teen Court in the Antelope Valley for the past 15 years.

The award-winning program is an alternative diversion activity where minors are able to act as jurors in teen trials that are usually cases which the investigating detective and the supervising probation officer have deemed as qualified for “Teen Court.”

The second annual Bridging the Achievement Gap Conference was held Nov. 6 at the Palmdale Learning Plaza, and gave administrators, educators, parents, and community members effective strategies to help close the persistent achievement gap.