How does Teen Court work? Eligible youth are referred to Teen Court by a sitting justice of the peace or municipal judge. The teen must plead guilty or nolo contendre prior to the case being referred to Teen Court . The sitting judge will not enter a sentence but will defer the sentencing while you attend Teen Court . Once in Teen Court , each defendant is appointed a volunteer teen defense attorney. Volunteer teen prosecutors are assigned to represent the State. Teen attorneys are trained by licensed attorneys.
Each hearing is presided over by an adult volunteer, usually local judges and attorneys. The hearings are conducted before a jury comprised of volunteer teens and/or past defendants completing their sentences. At the conclusion of each case, the jury retires to deliberate before handing down a constructive sentence of jury terms and community service hours and/or other appropriate sentence.
Once the terms of the sentence have been completed (within 90 days of referral from the court of origin), the case is dismissed which keeps the offense off the record. If the teen does not complete the terms of the sentence, then his/her case is sent back to the court
of origin and the original fine is imposed and goes on the record as a conviction for the offense.
If you complete the Terms of the Teen Court Program, your offense will not go on your record!
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