Midland Teen Court

Midland Teen Court, Inc.

Midland Teen Court Mission

Midland Teen Court uses youth participation as an alternative system of justice and educational opportunity, offering young offenders an opportunity to accept responsibility and make restitution for their offenses through community service, specialized classes and jury service, thus avoiding fines and sentences and keeping the offenses off their records.

What is Midland Teen Court?

Midland Teen Court is a "hands on" educational opportunity that allows both offenders and teen volunteers to experience, thus better understand, our system of justice. A youth who has a case deferred to Midland Teen Court appears before a jury of peers and receives a "constructive sentence." The jury is made up of secondary school volunteers and youth who are serving as part of their sentence.

Evidence from Midland indicates that young people are more likely to stay out of trouble following a Teen Court appearance thus saving the community hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Midland Teen Court works to interrupt developing patterns of illegal behavior by motivating youth for self-improvement, developing healthy attitudes toward authority, and increasing self-esteem. Teen Court stresses the responsibility and accountability of each individual for his actions. Service on a Midland Teen Court jury challenges individual youth to perform at the highest level of ability. Teen Court also educates youth in preparation for life responsibilities as an individual, family member and citizen.

Midland Teen Court Discipline Grid

The teen jury sets constructive sentences within the set discipline grid. The ranks include, but are not limited to, the following:

Rank 1

	5-10 hours of community service
	1-3 evenings of jury service
	Seatbelt violations, speeding 14 mph or less over speed limit, etc.

Rank 2

	10-15 hours of community service
	1-3 evenings of jury service
	Speeding 15-24 over speed limit or in a school or hospital zone, failing to yield or stop at a red light or sign, etc.

Rank 3

	15-25 hours of community service
	2-4 evenings of jury service
	Speeding greater than 24 mph over speed limit, No Driver's License, speeds greater than 80 mph, Curfew Violation, Theft Under $50, Minor in Possession, school attendance, etc.

Rank 4

	25-40 hours of community service
	2-5 evenings of jury service
	Driving Under the Influence, drug paraphernalia, failure to yield to emergency vehicles, Minor Consuming Alcohol, violent offenses, speeds greater than 90 mph

FAILURE TO APPEAR TO HAVE A CASE HEARD ON A SET COURT DATE WILL INCREASE THE RANK OF THE CASE.

Who is eligible to participate in Midland Teen Court?

Students who have received Class C misdemeanor citations

Volunteers from 7th grade through high school

Frequently asked questions:

How does a student, who has received a citation, enroll in Midland Teen Court?

What do students with citations have to do to complete Midland Teen Court?

Where and when is Midland Teen Court held?

Is there a dress code for Midland Teen Court?

Letter from the Midland Teen Court Board of Directors

Dear Parent(s) & Community Friends:

Your child, like many of our children, is fortunate to have his or her first experience with our judicial system through Midland Teen Court. Since its founding Teen Court has been funded primarily by the City, the County, Midland Independent School District, and previously by the Junior League of Midland, Inc. Because the participation of each of these funding entities is decided year by year, Teen Court needs financial support from other sources in order to insure its uninterrupted continuation.

We need and would appreciate your financial help. Consider what Teen Court may have done for you: saved you an increase on your monthly insurance; kept your child’s record clean while still teaching a lesson; provided framework of positive peer pressure and discipline; given your child an opportunity to make amends to the community through volunteer service; given your child a reason not to repeat a mistake. We are pleased you are receiving these benefits, and we are counting on your support.

Contributions may be mailed to:
Midland Teen Court
Attn: Mary Beck, Executive Director
615 W. Missouri, #226
Midland TX 79701

Contact Information

Mary Beck, Executive Director
Lane Springer, Assistant Director
Karen Walker, Administrative Assistant

Physical & postal address: 615 W. Missouri, #226
Midland, TX 79701
Telephone: 432/689-1065
FAX: 432/689-1087
Electronic mail: Executive Director, Mary Beck: mbeck@midlandteencourt.org
Administrative Assistant, Karen Walker kwalker@midlandteencourt.org Assistant Director, Lane Springer lspringer@midlandteencourt.org

Midland Teen Court held its first court session on September 22,1986. The Junior League of Midland, Inc. began Midland Teen Court as a project of the Junior League in coordination with the City, County, and Midland ISD. Midland Teen Court incorporated as an independent non-profit organization in 1993 and received nonprofit recognition under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. (All contributions should be deductible to the extent allowed by law.) A governing board comprised of members of the community at large as well as representatives of the funding bodies and the judiciary oversees the program.

Midland Teen Court is a Charter Member of Teen Court Association of Texas, a Partner of the Nonprofit Management Center of the Permian Basin, and a member of the Midland Chamber of Commerce.

Authority for Teen Court
Chapter 45, 45.052, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure
Chapter 54, 54.032, Texas Family Code

Midland Teen Court Mission

Send mail to mbeck@midlandteencourt.org with questions or comments about this web site. Last modified: 04/15/2008

Send mail to mbeck@midlandteencourt.org with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: 04/15/2008