{"id":504,"date":"2020-11-02T16:00:04","date_gmt":"2020-11-02T16:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tmcec.com\/teen-court\/"},"modified":"2024-11-15T18:54:02","modified_gmt":"2024-11-15T18:54:02","slug":"teen-court","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.tmcec.com\/mtsi\/teen-court\/","title":{"rendered":"Teen Court"},"content":{"rendered":"

Teen Court Workshop<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Teen Court Workshop is February 24-25, 2025 in Georgetown, Texas! Register today!\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Is your court interested in establishing or improving your teen court program? Are you looking for ways to implement Youth Diversion on January 1, 2025?
\nTMCEC, in conjunction with the Georgetown Municipal Court, Teen Court Association of Texas, and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), is proud to offer a teen court workshop. Enrollment is limited. This workshop includes live teen court proceedings and provides the tools necessary to start or enhance a teen court program in your city! Travel reimbursement is available.<\/p>\n

For more information contact Ned Minevitz at\u00a0ned@tmcec.com<\/a>\u00a0or 800.252.3718.<\/p>\n

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Teen courts provide a voluntary alternative to traditional adjudication and sentencing for teenagers in municipal or justice courts. Texas teen courts are governed by Section 45.052 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure<\/a> and Section 54.032 of the Texas Family Code<\/a>. Where offered, young defendants are able to plead no contest or guilty and have their case heard amongst peers. Typically, instead of paying a fine, the defendant\u2019s penalty will be in the form of community service, educational programs, and\/or future participation in teen court. Once the penalty is satisfied, the case is dismissed and the offense does not count as a conviction on the defendant\u2019s record. Teen courts have proven very successful in preventing impaired driving and other traffic offenses committed by teenagers.<\/p>\n

There are multiple aims of teen court. Rather than simply assessing a fine that will likely be paid for by the defendant\u2019s parents, teen court requires the teen to answer personally for his or her wrongdoing. This helps prevent repeat offenses as the defendant will not want to spend more time doing community service or going to teen court. Also, when a case is tried in front of juries and lawyers comprised of one\u2019s peers, there can be a profound effect on the defendant. Last, a subsidiary yet important goal is to promote respect for and understanding of the legal system.<\/p>\n

In Texas there are a variety of teen court models. Each one is slightly different. Generally, a juvenile is referred to teen court by the municipal or justice court and has his or her case argued by a teen prosecuting attorney and teen defense attorney. A jury of the defendant\u2019s peers deliberates and decides on a binding punishment for the defendant. These various roles are filled by teens fulfilling the punishment that was assessed upon them in teen court. Some courts have adult judges, some have teen judges, and some have adult volunteers who serve on teen court.<\/p>\n

The types of trials vary: adult judge court, teen\/peer judge court, master jury, tribunal jury, advocate court, plea in bar, and court supervised. TMCEC recommends that you observe the various types of teen court to determine what best suits your community and court.<\/p>\n

The management of teen court also varies: some teen courts are run by cities or counties while some are run by non-profit boards or agencies.<\/p>\n

WHAT MAKES A SUCCESSFUL TEEN COURT?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n