South Lake Tahoe Teen Court needs student volunteers

El Dorado County Teen Court in South Lake Tahoe is recruiting new student participants for the spring program. All students going to school in the county in grades 8 through 12 are eligible.

The Teen Court volunteer training will be held on January 21, 2016, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the El Dorado County Superior Court, Department 4, located at 1354 Johnson Boulevard in South Lake Tahoe.

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. Superior Court Judges and senior attorneys preside over teen court. Community attorneys donate their time to help students develop their cases.

“Teen Court provides youth in our community with a unique opportunity to learn about the juvenile justice system, and defendants receive a fair sentence from their peers,” said Jorge Orozco, Teen Court Coordinator. Youth interested in joining Teen Court must attend the January 21 training become volunteers. Students should arrive at the Court House no later than 4:45 p.m. Pre-registration for the training is not required but courtroom attire is required. Teen Court hearings will be held February through May 2016 on scheduled Thursday 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, Bar Association and local attorneys are important program partners.

For more information about Teen Court in South Lake Tahoe, please contact Orozco at (530) 573-7964.