The Municipal Court is accepting applications for the 2023-2024 Teen Court Program! Applications are due by June 30, and the program will kick off in late July; Session One will run from August to December 2023, and Session Two will run from January to April 2024. The Municipal Court will host an Informational Meeting on June 14 from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. at Manvel City Hall, 20031 Morris Ave. The program is made possible by the Manvel Municipal Court, Manvel Police Department, and dedicated volunteer staff.
Teen Court is a real justice "peer court" for misdemeanor juvenile traffic offenses run by teens, for teens, where participants prosecute and defend actual juvenile cases, learning about the judicial system along the way and training with real Municipal Judges, Police Officers, and Court staff. The program encourages students to take an interest in the judicial system and familiarizes them with navigating it.
Teen Court has several objectives; improve the overall understanding of the juvenile justice system, promote the application of appropriate sanctions concerning juvenile offenses, reduce recidivism of juvenile offenders, and spark an interest in the legal profession.
To become involved with the program, juvenile defendants plead guilty or “no contest” and then choose to have their cases adjudicated via Teen Court. Teen volunteers will then work with real justice professionals to prosecute or defend the defendant to teen jurors and official Municipal Court Judges. Teen jurors hear arguments from the prosecution and defense during the case before deciding on a punishment. Punishments can include community service hours and serving terms as a juror on other Teen Court cases.
The Municipal Court is currently accepting applications for student volunteers from the 7th-12th grade who would like to participate in Teen Court as an attorney, bailiff, juror, or clerk. Teen Court is an excellent opportunity for participants to gain knowledge of the legal and judicial system, advance personal and professional skills, and be a positive role model to peer groups. Participants will earn volunteer hours for graduation and gain field experience. Teen Court looks great on college and scholarship applications too!
The Municipal Court will host an Informational Meeting about Teen Court on June 14 from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 20031 Morris Ave. The 2023-2024 Teen Court Program will kick off July 21 and July 26 at City Hall, 20031 Morris Ave.
To apply for Teen Court, visit our Teen Court webpage. The deadline to submit an application is June 30.
For more information on the program, call 281-692-2702 or email brianna.bobb@cityofmanvel.com.
Come, learn, and be part of the Teen Court Program!