El Dorado County Teen Court in
Placerville is recruiting new student participants for the spring program. El Dorado
County students in grades 8 through 12 are invited to attend the Teen Court
volunteer training on January 20, 2016, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the El Dorado
County Superior Court, located at 495 Main Street in Placerville.
After completing the mandatory training, teens serve as
court personnel for real cases in which a minor has committed an offense,
admitted the offense and chosen to be judged for sentencing by their peers.
"Teen Court is a great experience for youth,"
said Stephanie Carlson, Teen Court Coordinator. "Students serve in roles
such as juror, prosecuting and defense attorney, court clerk and bailiff. Superior
Court Judges and senior attorneys preside over teen court. Community attorneys
donate their time to help students develop their cases. Youth get a real
understanding of the juvenile justice system, and defendants receive a fair sentence
from their peers."
Youth interested in joining Teen Court must attend the
training on January 20 to become volunteers. Students should arrive at the
Court House no later than 5:30 p.m. "Parking is available, but can be
challenging, so please plan accordingly," said Carlson. Pre-registration
for the training is not required. Courtroom attire is required. Teen Court
hearings will be held February through May 2016 on scheduled Wednesday nights.
A calendar of hearing dates is given at the training.
The highly successful Teen Court program began in El
Dorado County in 1992 and is funded through the El Dorado County Health and
Human Services Agency, Alcohol and Drug Programs. Teen Court cases are referred
and managed by the El Dorado County Probation Department. The County Superior
Court Judges, Sheriff's Office, local Bar Association and local attorneys are
important program partners, according to Carlson.
For more information about Teen Court in Placerville or
the volunteer training, contact Stephanie Carlson at (530) 621-6130. For
information about Teen Court in South Lake Tahoe, contact Jorge Orozco at (530)
573-7964.
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