Overview
The North Richland Hills Teen Court benefits both youth and community by
providing an alternative method of adjudicating juvenile offenders. Teens are
held responsible for their behavior while giving them the opportunity to
participate in and become knowledgeable about the judicial system. Juvenile
Offenders "pay" for their offense(s) by performing community service and
participating in Teen Court. Volunteer teen attorneys present offender's cases
to a jury of their peers. Upon successful completion of the program, offender's
cases are dismissed and do not appear on their permanent records.
Teen Court is not a trial court. All juvenile offenders must admit their guilt
and agree to accept a sentence given to them by a jury of their peers. A judge
is present to oversee the proceedings of Teen Court.
Teen Court alleviates the strain on the regular court system, besides giving
juvenile offenders a second chance. The program also provides youths in the
area a chance to participate in the judicial process.
Teen Court Hours
The North Richland Hills Teen Court is held on the first and second Monday
nights of each month. On each Monday night, Teen Court begins at 6:00 PM
promptly. Defendants and Jurors are required to arrive at 5:30 PM. Teen Court
has a Teen Court Coordinator on staff full time whose office hours are Monday -
Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Teen Court will not be in session on City recognized
holidays or on holidays set by Birdville Independent School District.
Teen Court Location
The City of North Richland Hills Teen Court is located at 6720 N.E. Loop 820,
North Richland Hills, Texas. Teen Court offices are in the same building as the
Municipal Court. We are located at the intersection of Rufe Snow Drive and N.E.
Loop 820 access road. We are on the south side of the building that includes
the City Library and City Recreation Center.
Click here to view map.
Teen Court Phone Number
817-427-6705
Teen Court Requirements
The following are requirements for youths that wish to select the Teen Court
program as an alternative for handling their citation(s):
- Must be under 19 years of age old and currently enrolled in school.
- Must enter a plea of guilty or nolo contendere (since Teen Court is only a "sentencing arm" of the Municipal Court and does not decide innocence or guilt).
- Must request the program from the Municipal Court Judge and pay a $20 administrative fee to the Court
- Must not have been through the NRH Teen Court program within the past year.
- Defendants are allowed 90 days to complete their sentences and jury terms.
- A parent or legal guardian must be present for a juvenile's first session of Teen Court.
- Adhere to the dress code established for Teen Court. Participants may be removed from the courtroom and will not receive attendance credit for violations of the dress code.
- No Children Under 10 years old allowed in Court while Teen Court is in session.
Teen Court Procedures
Trial |
|
|
Defendants will have their cases heard before a jury of their peers. The defendant will have a Teen Defense Attorney, and will be prosecuted by a Teen Prosecutor. The case will be heard before a Judge (Adult Volunteers who are actual Judges) and a teen jury. A verdict will be rendered by the jury after the trial that includes community service hours (within a pre-established range on the discipline grid) and at least one jury term.
|
|
| Master Jury | |
| This process is similar to a grand jury hearing. Defendants have direct interaction between themselves and the jurors. An adult volunteer is present at all times during the master jury hearings. The defendant's parent may be present as well. |
Failure to Successfully Complete Teen Court
A juvenile offender who agrees to participate in Teen Court has 90 days to
complete their sentence of community service hours and jury duties. They must
see the Teen Court Coordinator to receive an extension of time to complete. If
they do not successfully complete their community service and/or jury duties,
they will be returned to the Municipal Court for a hearing before the Judge.
The Judge will decide at this time the proper disposition of the case. A parent
is required at this hearing if the defendant is under the age of 17.
