Teen Court

Teen Court is a real justice program. It gives juveniles who have committed a misdemeanor crime a chance to appear before a jury of their peers. Cases heard in Teen Court involve crimes such as theft, shoplifting, criminal mischief, trespassing, third degree assault, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and minor in possession of alcohol.

“This is your chance to make a positive, lasting impact in the life of another.”

For the young person charged with a crime, Teen Court offers teenage offenders a second chance to learn from their mistakes without the high cost and stigma of a criminal record. It’s a positive “hands on” experience meant to divert offenders away from a pattern of criminal behavior. The Sarpy County Teen Court is monitored by the Teen Court Coordinator, Leonard Matthias. Read more about us in this Omaha Daily Record article.

All juveniles who participate in Teen Court are screened by Diversion Officers. Participation in Teen Court is on a voluntary basis for minors who admit responsibility for the offense and choose to go before their peers to receive the consequences of their actions. The juveniles who successfully complete Teen Court do not have a conviction on their record.

We need volunteers, ages 13 to 18 (and still in school) who want to help another youth by actively participating in these cases as either a jury member, or a defending or prosecuting attorney.

We’re looking for teens who:

• Want to help others

• Have their parent’s permission to participate

• Can attend one training session that occurs 30 minutes before each Teen Court

• Can take an oath to maintain strict confidentiality

Participating in Teen Court not only helps the juvenile on trial, but also helps you gain a deeper understanding of our legal system. It’s a great way to give back to our community in only a few hours a month.

To learn more about volunteering, please contact us at 402-593-2207 or e-mail!