Teen Court

Teen Court is a non-profit program that gives first-time youthful offenders a chance to avoid having a conviction on their records. In order to participate, the teen must plead guilty, accepting responsibility for their actions. Most of the cases are very low-level misdemeanors, like consumption of alcohol, having marijuana on school property, or larceny, and all have been approved by the district attorney’s office for participation in the program. The teen appears before a jury of their peers, who decide their “sentence,” which can include serving as a juror themselves, community service hours, restitution, and/or a mandatory skills group that may focus on anything from substance abuse to decision-making. If the teen successfully completes their sanctions in 90 days, the plea is vacated and the offense dismissed. Teen Court has a number of teen volunteers who act as the attorneys and other courtroom positions, but they are always in need of adult volunteers. At your first session, all you have to do is observe and see how the process works. On your second visit, you can talk with staff about what position you may be interested in. Please email Rebecca Murdock at woodr923@gmail.com to sign up or for more information.