To: ladylib
Teen Court was punishment only. A defendant has to first plead guilty or no contest at the municipal level to even get into the program. You could plead innocent at the municipal level, but most of these kids don't think there is any way to fight the charge and their parents insist they plead guilty so they can go to Teen Court and not have the infraction on their record and they don't have to pay the fine. In Teen Court you only have to pay $20 in court costs and do whatever community service is required in your sentence. If you default on your service you have to go back to municipal to pay the fine, but if you go through and finish the service you are excused from the fine.
To: sparkydragon
What a racket. Just go along with the community service so it doesn't go on your record even if you're innocent. Must give kids a good feeling about the American justice system.
I'd think that after an experience like that I would hate my school so much I'd flat out leave for something else.
152 posted on
11/27/2002 2:58:07 PM PST by
ladylib
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