Teen Court

Teen Court allows both offenders and volunteers to better understand the system of justice. Teen Court is held one to two Tuesday evenings each month at 5:30 p.m. and is located on the second floor of the Criminal Justice Center, 305 N. O'Connor Road.

Teens who have received a ticket may enroll in teen court to get the ticket dismissed.

Requirements include:

1. Applicant must be 10 to 18 years old and currently enrolled in high school.
2. Applicant must enter a plea of guilty or no contest and request teen court.
3. Applicant must not have been through a teen court program in the state of Texas within the past year.
4. There is a $20 registration fee.
5. Teens younger than 17 will be scheduled for an Initial Appearance docket and must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.
6. Teens 17 and older do not need a parent present to enter a plea, which can be done 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday.

For more information, email JuvenileServices@IrvingTX.gov or call (972) 721-3601.

The following are requirements for youths who wish to select the Teen Court program as the alternative for handling their tickets.

10 to 13-Year-Olds

The program for 10 to 13-year-olds consists of the youth and a parent / guardian attending counseling sessions held in the Youth and Family Counseling area of the Police Department.

First-time offenders with either Assault or Fighting in Public citations are required to attend two Anger Management classes offered in both English and Spanish.

For first-time offenders with other types of citations, one group counseling session (First Offender program) is required. English classes are held on Monday and Spanish on Wednesday, 6 to 9 p.m.

If youths are not first-time offenders, a Subsequent Offender Program is available (it includes four counseling sessions on consecutive Monday evenings from 6:30 to 8 p.m.). A parent is required to attend all programs. Enrollment is done through the Teen Court office.

Upon notification of completion of the appropriate program, the cases are taken back to the judge for dismissal.

Class 1 Violations

Class 1 violations will require 6-18 hours of community service and service of one jury term. Violations include, but not limited to:

1. Defective Lights
2. Equipment Violations
3. Failure to Signal
4. Following Too Closely
5. Improper Turns
6. Jaywalking / Crossed Roadway
7. No Helmet
8. Parking Violations (except disabled)
9. Seat Belt Violation
10. Speeding 1-10 miles per hour (mph)
11. Squealing Tires
12. Stopping in Prohibited Area

Class 2 Violations

Class 2 violations will require 15-30 hours of community service and service of one jury term. Violations include, but not limited to:

1. Anti-Noise Violations
2. Clinging to Motor Vehicle
3. Cut Across Business
4. Disabled Parking
5. Disobey Traffic Control Device
6. Driver's License Violations
7. Exhibition of Acceleration
8. Failure to Report Address Change
9. Failure to Use Restraint / Safety Seat
10. Failure to Yield Right-of-Way
11. Impeding Traffic
12. Littering / Public or Private Property
13. One-way Street
14. Ran Red Light
15. Riding Back of Pickup-u/18
16. Speeding 11-20 mph
17. Unsafe Lane Change
18. Wrong Side of Street

Class 3 Violations

Class 3 violations will require 28-46 hours of community service and service of two jury terms. Violations include, but not limited to:

1. Cell Phone Prohibited - School Zone
2. Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility (FMFR)**
3. Non-Traffic Offenses
4. Abusive Language
5. Failure to identify (ID) / Give Wrong
6. Name / Give False Report
7. Registration-Display Unauthorized Temporary Tags
8. Speeding - School Zone 1-10 mph
9. Speeding 21-25 mph

Class 4 Violations

Class 4 violations will require 42-60 hours of community service and service of two jury terms. Violations include, but not limited to:

1. Accident with Damage
2. FMFR - Subsequent Offense**
3. Leave Scene of Accident
4. Non-Traffic Offenses
5. Abuse 911 Line
6. Air Gun / BB Gun Violation
7. Assault
8. Criminal Mischief
9. Fighting in Public
10. Fleeing an Officer / Evading Arrest
11. JNA Fail-To-Appear
12. Loitering on School Grounds
13. Noxious Odor
14. Offensive / Obscene Display
15. Possession of / Discharge Fireworks
16. Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
17. Reckless Damage
18. Theft
19. Urinating in Public / Exposure
20. Pass Stopped School Bus
21. Speeding - School Zone 11+ mph
22. Speeding 26+ mph

Additional Options for Sentencing (Jury May Require One)

1. Anger Management class
2. Letter of apology to victim or to parent / guardian
3. Written essay (minimum 500 words) on a topic to be decided by the teen jury

NOTE: Jury decides whether hours assessed for multiple offenses run concurrently or consecutively; jury terms assessed are always for highest class offense.