Teen Court

What is Teen Court?

Teen Court supports the philosophy of breaking the cycle of behavior leading to criminal activity.

Teen Court of Santa Fe County was started in 1994 and has been serving teens and families in our community ever since. Alice Sealey, Teen Court Program Manager, has been running the program since 1996.

Teen Court is a first time offenders program with alternative sentencing and is run for teens by teens. The misdemeanor sentencing consists of Community Service, serving Jury Duties, mandatory DWI Prevention Class, well thought out Letters of Apology and other educational components such as Shoplifting Intervention Class (SIC), Substance Abuse Program (SAP), Middle School Parent Involvement Program (PIP), and our recently added components the Strategies for Teen Anger Management Program (S.T.A.M.P.), and the Graffiti Clean-Up Project. All substance cases will have an assessment, drug testing, possible counseling, and classes. We offer a Family Night presentation on how substances affect the growing brain as well as the Reality Program visit to the Youth Detention Center.

Teen Court offers services that keep teens out of Children’s Court and out of the Youth Detention Center and can save lives.

We also have Traffic Court for teens that get traffic violations. The traffic sentencing consists of Community Service, serving Jury Duties, mandatory DWI Prevention Class, and if necessary a Defensive Driving Course and Letter of Apology. These teens will be referred to us from Municipal and Magistrate Courts and will come to Teen Court. Teens are also referred to us by the Juvenile Probation and Parole Office and the Santa Fe Public Schools. Once their sentence is completed the charges will be dismissed from their records and will not affect their insurance costs.

There are also teens who volunteer their time to work at Teen Court and they are called Teen Attorneys.

Santa Fe County Manager Roman Abeyta  sitting in as guest judge on misdemeanor court.

 About Teen Court

• Santa Fe County Teen Court is an alternative court where teens are judged and sentenced by a teen jury. All cases are heard at District Court. Teen attorneys prosecute and defend the cases.
• Teen Court does not determine guilt or innocence; Teen Court is for sentencing only. A teen must accept complete responsiblity for his/her offense(s) to be heard in Teen Court.
• Teen Court is a way for eligible teens to keep their record clean. If a teen successfully completes his/ her sentence, the charges and fines are dismissed.
• By incorporating some of the principals of restorative justice we hope to help repair the harm that has been done. Teen Court gives teens the opportunity to connect and make a difference.
• Teen Court is voluntary for teens (ages 12-17) charged with traffic violations, shoplifting less than $250 value, possession of marijuana or alcohol, disorderly conduct, and other misdemeanors.
• Teen Court is for misdemeanor offenses which are referred by Municipal Court, Juvenile Probation and Parole, Magistrate Court, Children's Court, or the Santa Fe Public Schools.
• Teens can go to Teen Court if they have not committed an offense within the past two years. No one can go through Teen Court more than twice.
• All referrals to Teen Court must pay a $50 referral fee. This fee must be paid on or before the teen's scheduled hearing in Teen Court.

Responsibilities of Teen Defendants

• Teen must admit to the charges.
• Teen must appear at the sentencing hearing with his/her parent, guardian, or custodian.
• Teen must complete his/her sentence within the time frame given.
• Teens must follow the court Rules of Conduct.
• Teen must not commit any other offenses during their association with Teen Court.