Student Orientation Trainings are January 18 in Placerville and January 19 in South Lake Tahoe
El Dorado County Teen Court is now recruiting new student participants for the spring program. Teen Court is a unique and highly successful program that actively involves teens in the local judicial system. The program operates in both Placerville and South Lake Tahoe. After completing mandatory orientation training, teens serve as personnel in real court cases in which a minor has committed an offense, admitted to that offense and chosen to be judged for sentencing by their peers.
El Dorado County youth in grades 8 through 12 are invited to attend an upcoming orientation session:
Placerville Teen Court - Student volunteer orientation training will be held on January 18, 2017, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the El Dorado County Superior Court, located at 495 Main Street in Placerville. Students should plan to arrive by 5:30 p.m. for check-in.
South Lake Tahoe Teen Court - Student volunteer orientation training will be held on January 19, 2017, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at El Dorado County Superior Court, located at 1354 Johnson Blvd. in South Lake Tahoe. Students should plan to arrive by 4:45 p.m. for check-in.
Pre-registration for the trainings is not required. Courtroom attire is required. Teen Court hearings in Placerville will be held February through May 2017 on scheduled Wednesday nights. Teen Court hearings in South Lake Tahoe will be held February through April 2017 on scheduled Thursday nights. Students will receive a calendar of hearing dates at their orientation training.
"Teen Court is a great experience for youth," said Stephanie Carlson, Teen Court Coordinator in Placerville. "Students serve as jurors, prosecuting and defense attorneys, court clerks and bailiff. Superior Court Judges and mentor attorneys preside over Teen Court. Community attorneys volunteer 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 and a second chance."
The 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 the Placerville Teen Court, please contact Stephanie Carlson at (530) 621-6130. For information about Teen Court in South Lake Tahoe, please contact Hector Reyes at (530) 573-7959.
