Who is Eligible for Teen Court?

Youth who are under the age of 18 and are full-time students at an accredited secondary school for a high school diploma may have the option of Teen Court. Teen Court is available for most Class C misdemeanors such as minors in possession of illegal substances, theft less than $50.00, and traffic offenses. A defendant may only appear in Teen Court once within a two-year period.

Under Article 45.052 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure and Section 54.032 of the Family Code, successful completion of the sentence given by the Teen Court jury within a 90 day period results in dismissal of the citation. Failure to complete the Teen Court sentence results in payment of the originally set fine and a conviction on the defendant’s record.