Does your pre-teen/teenager need community service hours?  The Teen Court/Teen Court Too program, under the direction of the Manatee County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller, is in need of volunteers. Teen Court was established in 1991 as a pre-trial diversionary program for first-time juvenile offenders, ages 10-17 who admit guilt to selected misdemeanor offenses and some court-ordered non-violent felony offenses.  Instead of adults in the legal system deciding their fate, their peers do.  A group of middle and high school volunteers work as prosecution and defense attorneys, clerks, bailiffs, and jury members.  They help decide the offender’s penalty for disobeying a law or rule.  Please note that the attorney positions require additional training. To help continue to make this program successful, Teen Court is in need of more volunteers.  There is a need for both teenagers and adults.  Participants become familiar with the mechanics of the court system and learn what kind of career opportunities are available.  Teen Court also awards community service credit hours to school-age volunteers for their participation in the program. This is a year-round program. 

Please contact the program’s coordinators, if you have questions or would like to learn more about the program: Sue.Lockliear@manateeclerk.com, Vicky.Alvarez@ManateeClerk.com, or 941-741-4027.