Teen Court is holding virtual court hearings until further notice.
Teen Court volunteers can help make a big difference in the lives of young people.
Youth volunteers
Must be in middle or high school
Get a jump start on legal and criminal justice careers
Improve leadership skills
Experience positive peer pressure interaction
Can volunteer for four, eight or 12 months
Can be bailiffs, court clerks, jurors, defense attorneys or prosecuting attorneys
Adult volunteers
Must be 18 years of age or older
Have the opportunity to serve in the community
Serve as mentors to Miami-Dade's youth
Help cultivate a new generation of legal professionals while having a positive impact on young people who make poor choices
Are asked to volunteer at least four times per year
Can be court monitors, mentors, attorneys, judges, and more
Teens who serve as jury, defense and attorney will make a recommendation based on the type of offense that has been committed. After listening to arguments from both sides and jury deliberations, a judge will decide which sanction he or she will serve.
Possible sanctions include
Serve on a jury
Attend educational workshops
Participate in jail tours
Community service hours
Compose and present essays
Eligibility
Petit theft
Possession of marijuana
Disorderly conduct
Grand theft auto
Parent/school referrals
Trespassing
Third-degree felony
Truancy
Reduces recidivism to less than 3 percent
Offers relief to the local justice system
Develops responsible and knowledgeable civically-engaged citizens
Provides ongoing learning and growth opportunities which impact all residents
Encourages collaboration partnerships between youth and the local police department
Psychological Services Teen Court offers psychological services that promote youth success. These resources allow young people to:
Learn more about themselves
Receive evidence-based assessment and treatment to equip them with necessary life skills
Share experiences with others
Connect with subject matter experts
Gain knowledge that will prove invaluable in the future
The Family Empowerment Session Strengthens families impacted by youth delinquency. These sessions cover effective problem-solving methods and family character education.
Individual Youth Counseling Helps defendants overcome issues related to peer pressure, substance abuse, conflict management and other common adolescent adjustments.
The Parent Involvement Workshop Assists parents or guardians with sharpening their parental skills enabling them to break the cycle of negative behavior by their children. The workshop addresses issues related to parental stress, improving parenting skills and parent-child relationships.
Workshops Parents or participants are encouraged to attend a workshop to expose them to educational experiences through weekly and monthly workshops and counseling sessions. The following workshops are provided.
Anger Management Sessions include assessment and evaluation of the youth's anger and personal control. Participants needing this intervention must take a minimum of five sessions of counseling in order to receive credit for completion.
Ethics This course focuses on the importance of ethical behavior at school, home, and in the workplace. This course is mandatory for all Teen Court participants.
Jail Tours and Boot Camps These mandatory tours facilitated by Miami-Dade County Corrections and Rehabilitation Department give Teen Court participants an opportunity to see real life behind bars.
Law-Related Education Training Teen Court volunteers interested in serving the court as youth attorneys receive training and are exposed to legal concepts and procedures utilized by Miami-Dade County Teen Court.
Money and Banking Provides participants with the basics of money management.
Retail Theft Prevention This workshop is designed specifically for youthful offenders charged with retail/petit theft. Participants discuss the impact that theft has had on business and consumers.
Substance Abuse Preventative Workshop Group sessions covering aspects of substance abuse including the effect on the individual, the families, and the long-term cost to society.
Mondays at 6 p.m. Richard Gerstein Justice Building 1351 NW 12th Street, Court Room 1-5 Miami, FL 33125
Tuesdays at 6 p.m. South Dade Government Center 10710 SW 211th Street, Court Room 2-2 Cutler Bay, FL 33189
Wednesdays at 6 p.m. North Dade Justice Center 15555 Biscayne Blvd., Court Room 207 Miami, FL 33160
First Thursday of Every Month at 5 p.m. Miami Gardens City Hall 18605 NW 27th Avenue, Commission Chamber Miami Gardens, FL 33056
Second, Third and Fourth Thursday at 6 p.m. Hialeah City Hall 501 Palm Avenue, Commission Chamber Hialeah, FL 3310
The Student Court program is designed to
Help empower youth
Provide an avenue to reduce time spent out of school due to low-level infractions
Address safety issues
Create a positive learning environment
Help students become well-educated, civically-engaged citizens
Promote positive peer pressure
Foster character building
Encourage critical thinking, problem solving-decision making and other positive leadership skills among students
Other benefits include
Improved school safety
Discipline options for administration
Reduces student continuous involvement in school-rule violations
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