Teen Court is a program that offers teenage offenders an important second chance-- a chance to learn from their mistake without the high cost of a criminal record. Juveniles age 12 through 17 who have committed a non-violent minor crime appear before a jury of their peers. Teen Court is offered as a voluntary, positive experience to divert teen offenders away from a pattern of criminal behavior. C
ases heard in Teen Court involve crimes such as shoplifting, disorderly conduct, and destruction of property and possession of alcohol. The offender must have admitted guilt since this is a disposition hearing to determine consequences. In Teen Court, volunteers can perform the roles of jury, bailiff, and clerk. The judge is the only adult directly involved in the court preceding’s. CYFD Juvenile Probation Office and local various courts refer cases to Teen Court. The case is presented to the teen jury for determining consequences for the offender. After careful consideration of the facts, the jury decides upon a constructive sentence, which will include a minimum number of community service hours as well as service on other teen juries. Also, there might be educational programs, essays, and/or apology letters. There is a graduated set of guidelines designed for various offense levels. We are seeking middle through high school students in grades 7-12, who either live, go to school, or are home-schooled in Chaves County. Some of the benefits of volunteering include learning valuable skills including public speaking, logical thinking, and the operation of the judicial system. Along with that, Teen Court is an easy and fun way to meet new friends and make a meaningful difference in your community. Teen Court meets every month on Tuesdays at 5:30 PM at the Roswell Municipal Court. Call Tabitha Denny, the Teen Court Coordinator at (575)755-TEEN (8336).
