Hear ye, hear ye, Teen Court is now in session.
Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace Rhonda Redden kept a campaign promise by recently starting a court in Taylor with misdemeanor cases presented and adjudicated by teenagers to help them learn about the justice system.
The first hearing was Sept. 8 and sessions will be held monthly at Redden’s courtroom, 211 W. Sixth St.
Teen Court is run by students ages 13-17 who fulfill the duties of a judge, attorneys, a bailiff and a clerk.
Students who have already pleaded guilty or no contest to a Class C misdemeanor — including traffic tickets, truancy or possessing small amounts of drugs or alcohol — are defended or prosecuted by teen attorneys with a sentence delivered by an actual jury of their peers.
“I am all about anything that helps our kids,” Redden said.
Student applicants accepted into the program rotate through each court position.
Defendants can choose to be judged in Teen Court but must abide by the jury’s ruling.
The sentences range from performing five to 45 communityservice hours and serving one to five jury terms.
“Our hope at some point is that these defendants will enjoy teen court and become interested enough that they will want to move into other volunteer roles besides the jury service,” Redden said.
Redden applauded the efforts of her staff including Stephanie Teinert, juvenile case manager, and Carrie Beran, juvenile program coordinator, to bring Teen Court to fruition.
“All of these visions that I had, they’re making them come to life,” Redden said.
Teinert and Beran interview prospective candidates for court positions.
Teen volunteers hail from seven different public school districts, St. Mary’s Catholic School and a private school in Austin.
“We’re very excited to have all of these students show the initiative and the care to come down here and help out other students,” Teinert said.
The student volunteers undergo training and receive a binder outlining the rules, goals and guidelines of Teen Court, information on a dress code and scripts to follow for each duty.
The sample script walks the students through the various courtroom roles, such as how a bailiff opens a hearing and introduces the judge.
Other precincts in Williamson County have had teen courts for some time, so Redden said it was important for her to launch one in Precinct 4.
The judge added she “feels like our youth here are underserved.”
Teinert and Beran agreed. “We would love to have more free resources to help our youth. That is a struggle in our area,” Beran said.
Redden noted there are programs available, but they require a long drive, such as the nonprofit organization Jail to Jobs in Cedar Park.
“It’s really hard for our kids over here to travel all the way over to the west side of the county to take advantage of that,” Redden said.
She added she would love to have something like Jail to Jobs in east Wilco.
“If we had something like that here or if we could get them to duplicate it, get them to have two campuses, that would be amazing,” Redden said.
Meanwhile, Teen Court provides a valuable education about the judicial system for the students who come into her court, whether as volunteers or defendants.
“We want them to have a better chance of being successful adults,” Redden said.
A few may even go into law or police work someday, officials said.
For more, reach out to Teinert at 512-352-4103 or Beran at 512-3524169.
Student and adult volunteers can apply at [email protected].
