Justice of the Peace Pct. #2
Teen Court
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On this Page:
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Video about Teen Court
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(The following links go to the American Bar Association's web site. A new window will open on each link.) |
National Youth Court Center
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Justice of the Peace Pct. #2 Teen Court Information
Teen Court is a statutory peer accountability program for students between the ages of 10 and 17 who receive complaints or citations from Denton County law enforcement agencies and courts. It is often used as a condition for deferred disposition. NOTE: Referral is not automatic: Young defendants or their parents should request that the police or the municipal judge refer their case to Teen Court.
Participation in Teen Court is based on an admission of guilt, although defendants may enter "no plea" on official court records. Trials are not for the purpose of determining guilt or innocence - trials are to establish appropriate community service sentences based on the circumstances of the offense.
There is a $10 administrative fee for defendants.
Participation is voluntary. Defendants may opt to terminate participation at any time prior to their Teen Court hearing. Teen Court Administrators reserve the right to refuse participation from those who fail to abide by the terms of the Teen Court Agreement.
The Teen Court hearings are heard in the JP2 courtroom with:
- Denton County Justice of the Peace
- Teenaged Bailiff
- Teenaged “Prosecutor”
- Teenaged “Defense Counsel”
- Teenaged Jury
Teen defendants are prosecuted by a teenaged "prosecutor", have teenaged "defense counsel" and are sentenced by a teenaged jury.
Bailiffs are from The Colony High School JROTC. (Teen Court is a sponsored activity by TCHS).
If you would like to participate as a bailiff, please contact Mr. John Robb or Col. Bill White at TCHS.
If you would like to become a Teen Court lawyer, download, complete and send in the Teen Court Advocate application or contact the Teen Court Administrator at (972) 434-7200.
If you would like to participate as a "juror", you need not call to sign up. View the Teen Court calendar for dates. Jurors should appear at 5:30 p.m. A pizza dinner is served on a "first come, first served" basis. Court will begin at 6:00 p.m. and be over by 8:30 or 9:00 p.m. Once a student is inside the building, he or she may not leave until court is over, unless a parent comes inside the building to sign the student out.
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