Teen Court

Arlington Teen Court aims to interrupt developing patterns of illegal behavior, by using a "hands on" approach to stress the responsibility and accountability of the offender's actions.

Through the Teen Court Program, juvenile offenders experience our justice system to first hand to educate and prepare them for life responsibilities as an individual, family member, and citizen.

• Defendant is only required to pay a $20 administrative fee as opposed to paying a court cost and fine.
• Ticket remains off of a defendant's record upon successful completion of the Teen Court program.
• Defendant gains knowledge of the judicial system.
• The program gives the defendant an opportunity to give back to the community as restitution for their violation.
• Defendant learns to becomes a more productive member of society.

Teen defendants between the ages 14 - 18, who are currently enrolled in a secondary school, may request Teen Court as an alternative to paying the court fine and as a way to keep the violation off his/her record.

The teen defendant must come before the judge and enter a plea of No Contest or Guilty. The teen defendant will then pay a $20 administrative court fee instead of paying the fine and will be set for a Teen Court Hearing. The Teen Court Coordinator determines the type of Teen Court Hearing for each case.

Types of Teen Court Hearings

Trial

Teen defendants will have a trial which is presided over by an adult judge. The teen defendant will be tried by a teen prosecutor and defended by a teen defense attorney. The defendant's sentence will be determined by a teen jury. Those serving on the jury are either teen volunteers or teen defendants who are serving a jury term to satisfy a portion of their sentence.

Master Jury

Teen defendants will have hearings presided over by an adult judge. The teen defendant will give testimony of their offense and will directly interact with the teen jury. The teen jury will ask detailed questions to the defendant about his/her offense. The defendant's sentence will be determined by the teen jury; the jury members are teen volunteers and teen defendants serving a jury term to satisfy a portion of their sentence.

Sentence

The juvenile defendant will be sentenced to complete community service hours, two or more teen court jury terms, and/or a creative alternative sentence to "pay" the fine. The number of community service hours and jury terms, as well as the type of alternative sentencing, will be based on the type of offense committed according to the Discipline Grid(PDF, 18KB). If the juvenile defendant satisfactorily completes his or her sentence by the completion date, the violation will be dismissed and will not be on the defendant's record.

Teen Court Hearings are held once a month on Tuesday nights at the Arlington Municipal Court in the Court Assembly Room. Defendants and jurors are required to appear by 5:00 pm. The court session starts at 5:30 pm and is generally over by 7:30 pm. The interim time allows the defense and prosecuting attorneys time to prepare their cases for the evening.

• April 15, 2025
• May 13, 2025
• June 17, 2025

Teen Court is a formal and very serious place, commanding respect from all who participate in its proceedings. All participants (defendants, parents/guardians, guest and volunteers) are required to adhere to the following dress and behavior code.

The following is enforced for all defendants, jurors, and volunteers:

• No caps or hats
• No short shorts or short skirts
• No tank tops or exposed midriffs
• No inappropriate logos on shirts
• No torn or dirty clothing
• No sagging pants or exposed underwear
• No pagers and cellphones

Teen Court reserves the right to refuse involvement to anyone who does not abide by the dress code.

Sentences or requirements of an offense consists of a specific number of hours of community service and a required number of jury terms as a Teen Court Juror. The Teen Court Jury assesses community service based on the evidence presented.

A range of hours for each offense is defined by a grid system which is based on the nature of the offense. The Teen Court Discipline Grid provides the range for the most common offenses and can include those not mentioned.

Jury terms must be completed at the Arlington Municipal Court.

We would like that the community service is completed in Arlington to support our community with our court approved non-profit agencies. Community service can be completed in another city as long as you can show proof that the community service agency is a valid nonprofit organization, by providing a 501(c)(3) letter with your community service timesheet.

No, you cannot bring your friends. Remember, the community service hours assigned and jury terms are the sentence for your violation. You must treat your sentence like a job.

You will need to contact the Teen Court Coordinator to receive a new timesheet. Depending on the community service agency, previous hours may or may not be recovered.

If you do not complete your requirements by the completion date, you will be required to come back to court to see a judge to show cause as to why did not finish. It is at the judge's discretion whether you are given additional time to complete your requirements or if you will have to pay the fine and be found guilty.