FAQs • Williamson County, TX • CivicEngage

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How long do I have to complete my Teen Court Sentence?: You have 90 days to complete your community service, jury term(s) and any other sentencing requirements you may have received at your Teen Court appearance. Failure to complete these requirements within the 90 days will result in your case being returned to the JP3 Court Judge which could result in the original fines being assessed and a conviction on the defendant’s record.

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Teen Court

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1. What is Teen Court?: Teen Court is an alternative, voluntary program, which offers young offenders an opportunity to make restitution for an offense through community service, specialized classes and jury service, thus avoiding fines and keeping the juvenile’s record clear. You will be represented by a volunteer teen attorney and sentenced by a jury of your peers.

2. Am I eligible to participate in Teen Court?

The answer is "yes", if the following criteria are met:

You plead guilty or no contest (nolo contendre) to a Class C misdemeanor, not including Failure to Attend School
You are between the ages of 10 and 18, or are currently enrolled full-time in a program to receive a high school degree
You have not been a defendant in a Teen Court program in the past two years

3. How do I request to have my case heard in Teen Court?: Requests to have your case heard by the JP3 Teen Court may be made at your scheduled initial Court appearance with the Judge.

4. What are the possible sentencing guidelines I may face from the Teen Court jury?: Sanctions include community service hours and participation in the JP3 Teen Court jury and may include educational classes. Please note that some violations require mandatory classes required by law.

5. How long do I have to complete my Teen Court Sentence?: You have 90 days to complete your community service, jury term(s) and any other sentencing requirements you may have received at your Teen Court appearance. Failure to complete these requirements within the 90 days will result in your case being returned to the JP3 Court Judge which could result in the original fines being assessed and a conviction on the defendant’s record.

6. What are the benefits of having my case heard in Teen Court?: Upon successful completion of the JP3 Teen Court requirements, the case will receive a clean dismissal. There will not be a conviction entered on the defendant’s record. Also, in lieu of regular Court costs and fines, a $10 Teen Court fee plus court costs is paid instead.