Teen Court: Alternate System of Justice

Who Benefits from Teen Court

The Community

• Fewer juvenile repeat offenders free up law enforcement agencies to focus their attention on more serious criminals. By interrupting errant juvenile patterns of behavior, the expense of future imprisonment will be minimized.
• Community service work performed at non-profit organizations improves those operating conditions and reduces their workload.

The Youth

• Teen Court challenges youth to perform at their highest level of ability and places high priority on educating the youth for life responsibilities as individuals, citizens, and family members.
• Teen Court creates a peer group working together for awareness and compliance with the law.
• Teens become acquainted with the judicial system and experience the satisfaction of contributing to the community while gaining valuable work experience.
• Completion of requirements within the specified time results in a dismissal, which keeps the offense off of the youth's record.

Parents

• It provides a framework of positive peer pressure and discipline.
• It provides an opportunity for your child to make amends to the community through community service work.
• Gives your child a reason not to repeat a mistake.

Eligibility

• Youth ages 10 through 18 who have received a Class C misdemeanor violation who are currently enrolled in school or seeking a high school diploma.
• Youth that has not participated in a Teen Court program within the past year may request Teen Court.
• The youth must plead either guilty or no contest.
• Pay $20 administrative court fee.