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What are Teen Court and Teen Court Too?
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Teen Court/Teen Court Too are real courtroom experiences for kids who break the law and get caught for the first time. The charge has to be a first time misdemeanor and the juvenile needs to admit guilt to qualify for the TC/TCT programs. Their participation in TC/TCT is en lieu of attending Juvenile Court. We call our programs Diversion Programs because attendance in TC/TCT may keep a child out of the Juvenile Court system. In the courtroom, teenagers fill the roles of the attorneys, clerk, bailiffs and the jury. The Judge may be a real sitting Judge, a member of the Manatee County Bar Association or an Attorney from the State Attorney’s Office. They all volunteer their time. Teen Court is for teenagers ages 14, in the 9th grade, to 17 and they must be either in school or working. To participate, teens must show remorse for their crime and be willing to cooperate. Teen Court Too hears cases for children ages 10 to 14 years old and also attending school.
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Who gets sent to Teen Court and by whom?
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Any juvenile who breaks the law and is charged with a first time misdemeanor, has no priors and admits guilt. Referrals come to us from Law enforcement, the Court, the State Attorney’s Office and the Juvenile Assessment Center.
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Can I choose to go to Teen Court or am I sent?
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A juvenile may not choose to attend court unless he or she wants to volunteer for community service hours. A juvenile who breaks the law is sent if he or she qualifies.
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Is Teen Court mandatory?
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Once a case is referred to TC/TCT, attendance and participation are mandatory. If a teen does not attend or participate, the case will be sent to Juvenile Court for prosecution. Most teens participate fully and appreciate the Teen Court experience.
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What if I don’t or can’t show up for my Teen Court appointment?
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If you don’t show up and you were referred, you better have a very good reason and call the office to speak with the Coordinator. Otherwise, you face being violated out of the program. If you can’t show up, we expect a phone call in advance. Our number is 941-741-4027.
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What happens in Teen Court?
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As stated above, peers of the defendants occupy the roles of the attorneys, clerk, bailiff and the jury. The attorneys come early on court days, look over the docket and the cases and they decide who is going to prosecute or defend each defendant whose case is being heard that day. At a previously determined hour, the Judge enters the courtroom and we begin the first case. Each attorney makes opening statements, then we have the questioning period during which time the defendant, under oath, goes to the witness box and answers questions about the incident. The jury, in the jury box, listens to the defendant, observes his/her demeanor and assimilates the information. After the questioning is over and the defendant returns to the defense table, we have closing arguments during which time the attorneys ask for a sentence. The judge instructs the jury to go into the Jury Deliberating Room, pick a foreperson and unanimously arrive at a sentence. The sentence will be 15-75 hours of community service work, 3-8 jury duties, letters of apology, an essay, curfew, house arrest, suspension of driver’s license, AA meeting(s), NA meeting(s), if necessary drug classes and a drug screen if drug related and anger management sessions when necessary.
Most sentences do not contain all the above but some of what is stated. The sentence is transferred to a contract and the defendant with parents/guardian signs, agreeing to complete the conditions in a prescribed time frame. The defendant and family leave with a copy of the contract understanding this is what needs to be done in order to successfully complete the Teen Court/Teen Court Too program.
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When and where is Teen Court held?
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We meet every Tuesday throughout the year, except for about 5 times per year, on the third floor of the courthouse in Courtrooms C, D, E, F and G. We begin at 5:15 PM and usually go until 7:15 PM.
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Can anyone sit in and watch Teen Court hearings?
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If someone wishes to observe our courtrooms, you will need to notify us in advance by calling 941-741-4027 so we know who to expect. Also we require confidentiality for the participants present that evening and swear an oath of confidentiality in our courtrooms.
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How can I volunteer to be on the Teen Court?
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Adult and youthful volunteers are always welcome in our courtrooms. Usually the best way is to call our office and arrange a time before court so we may meet the prospective volunteer. Sometimes we have enough time to mail out information, our brochure and the training manual to the interested person.
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Who decides the punishment at Teen Court?
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The teen jury decides on the sentence and fills out the sentencing form and reads it to the defendant in the courtroom.
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What happens if I don’t complete the Teen Court program?
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The complete police affidavit and any supplemental information are sent to the Juvenile Court Office and to the State Attorney’s Office. The State Attorney will file on the juvenile and a Deputy will appear at your house with a summons to attend Juvenile Court with your parents. Now the offender will have the opportunity to face a real Judge.
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How many times can I go to Teen Court?
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As a volunteer, as many times as you would like to; as a juvenile referral who has received a sentence from a teen jury, it depends on the number of jury duties stated on the sentencing form. Then your attendance is mandatory.
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What types of crimes does Teen Court handle?
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We accept light misdemeanors such as:
Battery – non-domestic,
Criminal Mischief,
Trespass – unoccupied dwelling,
Disorderly Conduct,
Possession of Marijuana Less than 20 grams,
Possession of Paraphernalia,
Assault – non-domestic,
Petit Theft/Retail Theft,
Possession of Alcohol by a Minor,
Harassing Telephone Calls (not lewd or fatal threats),
Disturbing a School Function and
non-violent felonies which are judicially ordered.
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Do I have a criminal record once I’ve completed the Teen Court program?
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If you successfully complete our program, you do not have a criminal record but you do have an arrest record forever. In most cases an arrest can be expunged and that information is available from the Teen Court Coordinators.
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