Youth Court
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Youth Court is a form of Law-related Education, as well as a Diversion Process. Youth are given the opportunity to have their minor, often status offenses, heard by and tried by their peers, rather than by a Magistrate Judge. The process is educational for youth, including those who participate as attorneys, juries, clerk, bailiff, and of course, the defendant. The process provides a vehicle for ownership of the judicial system by high school and junior high school aged youth. It give them an understanding of the time and effort required in the court system to ensure defendant rights and to ensure that justice is served. If you have received a citation for illegal consumption of alcohol or possession of tobacco and it is your first offense and you are going to plead guilty, you can elect to proceed through Youth Court rather than the regular criminal court process. You will be given a date and time to appear on your citation. At that time, you may register for Youth Court. You will be required to sign a waiver of the rights that you would have in criminal court. You will then receive your Youth Court date, which is set up on a first come/first serve basis. Youth Court will be run by students who will act as the prosecutor, defense attorney, court staff and jury. The Youth Court jury will determine your sentence from a list of alternative sentencing options provided. If you complete the sentence of the Youth Court jury within the allotted time, then the charge is dismissed and you will not have a record of a conviction. If you fail to complete the sentence within the allotted time, your case will be transferred back to the criminal court and will proceed in a normal manner. A Magistrate/District Judge will be presiding over the Youth Court to ensure proper court etiquette. Youth Court will be held in the evenings and a parent/guardian must attend with you. | ||||||||
This page was last updated on 07/21/06 Web Design by SCC |
