Matagorda County  and Wharton County Youth seek to increase the knowledge of how family laws, banking laws, consumers law, and criminal affect them every day,  When laws are violated, whether civil or criminal, someone is hurt.  Youth need to understand the  seriousness of  and the consequences of their actions when they commit an offense whether it may be truancy, vandalism, theft, alcohol-related offenses or just traffic violations.                        

The Street Law project  seeks to lower the offense rate committed by youth in Bay City and Matagorda County making them knowledgeable citizens.  Our program  teach the youth that they do not have to be labeled juvenile delinquents in the eyes of the justice system and their community.  They  learn that they are part of the system.

• The Street Law Project   conduct two seminars per quarter at  Bay City Teen Court, El Campo , Palacios and/or  Van Vleck High Schools.
• Youth ages 12 through 18 at  the schools will attend criminal law workshops which will include Criminal Law topics such as (1) Disorderly Conduct, Sexual and Racial Harassment, Theft and Shoplifting, Alcohol Offenses, How to handle bullies and the effects of bullying, and Traffic Law.
• Three rotating Street Law Instructor will also present  Civil Seminars on vital subjects affecting youth including the following topics:  Family Law, Divorce, Custody and Youth,  Consumer Law, Contracts and youth,  Banking and Youth,
• Seminars will be held in the evenings from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  and during the day at time assigned by the principals at Bay City Jr. High School, Bay City High School and Van Vleck High Schools.

• Attorneys, Judges, Policemen, Bankers, Business Owners, Public Officials,  and other Local City and Governmental Agencies will teach these workshops two times per week for 22 weeks on a rotating basis. The Project Coordinator will correspond with these local agencies to set up times and provide all teaching and learning materials.

With Street Law we hope to cut the level of the crimes and offenses committed by the youth in the community by at 25% each year.  Street Law instructors  will teach this knowledge to male and females and Bay City and Van Vleck School Districts ages 12 years up to 18..

Local professionals who serve as Street Law Instructors will teach Youth how to solve conflicts and the intent of the laws around them and how laws are based on values.  Students will be taught what triggers anger and receiving negative feedback with out getting upset, how to use active listening skills.

Through Street Law the youth will learn a wide range of choices that they can make when their anger is triggered. This project can also help the youth to identify and evaluate different options for resolving different types of conflicts.   All participation youth will be required to  participate in seminars which will include defining legal terms and acting out roles in mock trials.  Due process of law will be explained to the youth along with their due process rights. The youth will learn what negotiation means and what basic steps are used in the negotiation process.