Justice of the Peace Aaron Green of Matagorda County

Teen Court The Matagorda County Teen Court Program  is a unique youth justice program for  Teen  and Pre-Teen  offenders of misdemeanor crimes and school discliplinary violations. It is designed to give youth between the ages of 10 and 18 who have broken the law, violated school rules and admitted their guilt, a second chance.   Teen Court is totally voluntary and offered as an alternative  sanction for Court or School Officials.  The Teen Court  youth are always referred by and under the jurisdiction of a referring  law enforcement agency, Court, or School Adminstration.   Those who are referred and  accepted into the program must go "to a sentencing trial" in a real courtroom with teens serving as prosecuting, defense attorneys, jurors, victim advocates, clerks and bailiff.  The only adult is the Presiding Judge.  The teen jury determines the sentence, which includes mandatory community service, jury duty in future Teen Courts and other recommended sanctions. Upon successful completion of the program charges against the defendant are dismissed. Through Teen court Youth Offender receive the benefit  getting a second chance to clear up a mistake in their lives thus being able to  developing a  pattern of criminal behavior. Teen Court programs helps to reinforce self-esteem, provide motivation for self-improvement and promote a healthy attitude toward authority. Teen Court helps  to educate  and involve youth about the judicial process. Through direct participation, Teen Court addresses responsibility for one's behavior and accountability to one's community and peers, and enhances respect for the judicial process. Each participant in Teen Court, whether a defendant, juror, bailiff, teen attorney, or adult volunteer, is involved in a positive and meaningful way. HOW DOES TEEN COURT WORK? Cases are referred from Law Enforcement, Municipal courts, Justice of the Peace Court and School Officials  for offenses occurring primarily within the school and local community. The juvenile must admit guilt in order to participate in Teen Court. The juvenile appears before the teen jury, and is represented by a teen "defense attorney." The prosecutor is also a teen "attorney" and both attorneys are assisted by adult attorney mentors. Each teen attorney makes an opening statement, the defendant testifies and is cross-examined. Evidence is considered. The jury deliberates and reaches a verdict, and the defendant is sentenced. Upon completion of the Teen Court sentence the Teen Court notifies the referring authority and the original charges against the juvenile are dismissed. HOW ARE THE TEEN JURORS, BAILIFFS, CLERKS AND ATTORNEYS SELECTED? School administrators and teachers are asked to nominate teens for participation in Teen Court. Teens may also nominate themselves. Parents/guardians must consent to the teens' participation. Mandatory training sessions are held each semester for all interested teens. Teens appointed as attorneys are assigned an adult attorney mentor to assist them in trial preparation. Previously sentenced teens are added to the peer jury pool. WHAT TYPES OF SENTENCES ARE IMPOSED BY TEEN COURT? Sentences imposed by teen juries must include community service and participation in future Teen Court sessions as jurors. Sentences may also include counseling, restitution to the victim, letters of apology, remedial classes (theft, alcohol education, etc.) and essays. Sentencing is intended to be constructive, and to involve the defendant actively in the community as well as in future Teen Court sessions.  WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF TEEN COURT? To the defendant: Interruption of a potential pattern of criminal behavior. Improvement of self-esteem resulting from successful completion of the program. Reinforcement of positive behavior. Accountability. An opportunity for a young person to avoid a criminal record. To the Court: Service to the community benefiting the entire community. Parent-guardian involvement. Reduction of the case load in the over-burdened criminal court system. Dramatic reduction in the number of repeat offenders. To the community: Service to the community benefiting the entire community. Parent-guardian involvement. Reduction of the case load in the over-burdened criminal court system. Dramatic reduction in the number of repeat offenders. To the schools: A positive alternative for students who have stepped "off track" for the first time. Judgment of a teen by their "peers" which in many cases has a more powerful impact than adult discipline. Real consequences for delinquent behavior in the school environment. To the student volunteers: Involvement in redirecting peers. A better understanding of the judicial system by teens through hands-on participation. Reinforcement of good citizenship. Improvement of public speaking and advocacy skills. Teen Court is a non-profit organization that is housed  in the Bay City Lions Teen Center at 600 12th Street, Bay city, Texas 77414.   Phone : 979-245-1401.  email: matagordateencourt.net      The Matagorada County Teen Court Coordinator is Theresa A. Hawkins.

a “second chance.”

         - Mission Statement -       

The mission of the Matagorda County Teen Court program is to promote, educate and enhance the behavior and responsibility levels of the teens in Matagorda County.  The Teen Court program instills a mature level of discipline while promoting personal accountability.  The Teen Court program will remain a volunteer organization abiding by all legal and ethical rules of conduct while maintaining the IRS 50 1(c) (3) exemption.  The Teen Court program is designed to confront juvenile crime with legal and educational tactics while providing consequences through alternative sentencing for acts of indiscretion.

LINKS:

www.myspace.com/matagordacountyteencourt

http://www.geocities.com/matagorda_teencourt/Teen_Court.html

E-MAIL :

matagorda_teencourt@yahoo.com