About Teen Court

Metroport Teen Court is a voluntary program which allows juvenile Class C misdemeanor offenders to "pay" off their citations through community service and involvement in the judicial process.

Process

These cases are presented by volunteer teen court attorneys to a jury of the defendant's peers made up of volunteers from local secondary schools and returning youth who were previously defendants. The jury members then assess a sentence of community service hours following the guidelines of the discipline grid. Teen court is a "hands on" educational opportunity which allows teen offenders and teen volunteers to better understand our system of justice.

Defendant Eligibility

Teens must meet all of the criteria below in order to be eligible for teen court:

• Teens who receive a citation for a class C misdemeanor
• Ages 12-19
• Is currently enrolled in secondary school of education (middle school or high school)
• Has not successfully completed a Teen Court program anywhere in the state of Texas in the last year
• Must enter a plea of guilty or nolo contendere (no contest)

If you meet the eligibility requirements and would like to request the teen court program to satisfy your citation you must come in person to see the judge on your court date. Be prepared to pay $20 for each violation you intend to complete teen court for.

Further Information

For more information about METROPORT Teen Court visit their website or call the teen court coordinator at 817.748.8346