History of the Evelyn M. Lord Teen Court

The Evelyn M. Lord Teen Court began in September of 1992 as a joint effort between the Jefferson County Young Lawyers Association and the City of Beaumont. This alternative sentencing program for juvenile offenders was an outcome of the community meeting held in January 1992 as citizens gathered to address the growing problem of gang and youth violence under the leadership of Beaumont Mayor Evelyn Lord. The success of Teen Court is a result of the cooperative efforts between several entities: Judge Lupe Flores (Chief Magistrate Municipal Court), Winnie Kocot (Municipal Court Administrator), Jefferson County Young Lawyers Association, Jefferson County Juvenile Probation Department, and the Mayor's Youth Commission. The initial efforts of each person/group enabled the Beaumont Teen Court program to receive state and national awards from the Texas and American Bar Association.

Teen Court sessions are held bi-monthly on Tuesday evenings at the Beaumont Municipal Court. First-time offenders from the age of 10 to 16 who have plead guilty to a Class C non-traffic offense are eligible to participate. Those juvenile defendants who meet the requirements are assigned a Teen Court date and appear before a teen jury. Each defendant is required to complete the following during their 90 day deferral: perform community service, serve one jury term, attend workshops with their parent/guardian, and write an essay and/or apology letter. In addition, they are to keep their record clear during the 90 day deferral period.

The success of the Evelyn M. Lord Teen Court is due to the overwhelming response of volunteers from within the Beaumont community who graciously give their time and talent. Area high schools publicize the need for teen volunteers to serve as attorneys and jurors. Southeast Association of Legal Assistants provides Court Clerks and Check-in clerks for each session. A local Licensed Professional Counselor donates his time and expertise to the teen defendant and parent workshops. A Beaumont Police Officer also donates his/her time to one of these four required workshops. The Jefferson County Bar Association Auxiliary organizes a schedule of lawyer representatives for each session and prepares our Teen Court Newsletter. The Jefferson County Young Lawyers Association not only provides lawyers from its membership to instruct teen attorneys, but also extends assistance to other areas of Teen Court as described in the following paragraph.

The Jefferson County Young Lawyers Association was instrumental in the forming of a Teen Court program through the development of a Teen Court Board of Directors. The Board consists of JCYLA representatives, Municipal Court Chief Magistrate, City Council members, Beaumont Independent School District representatives, Jefferson County Juvenile Chief Probation Officer, Jefferson County Bar Association Auxiliary, and community representatives. The JCYLA gives feedback on program plans and has donated funds for its continued growth. On a weekly basis, volunteer licensed attorneys are assigned to perform various tasks: 1) assist the teen prosecutor, 2) assist the teen defense counsel, 3) coach the Master Jury, or 4) preside as judge over the court proceedings. While the sessions are in process, the JCYLA volunteers are present to give added confidence to teen attorneys and remain afterwards to give feedback on their performance. Twice a year the JCYLA provide a training session at Municipal Court for prospective teen attorneys through a mock demonstration of the trial process and group discussion. As teen offenders and volunteers have an opportunity to meet with JCYLA representatives, they are receiving a message of leadership and responsibility.

Each Tuesday evening, teen offenders and volunteers enter the courtroom unaware of the knowledge and experience they are about to gain. Under the guidance of lawyer volunteers, teens learn how our system of justice works as they experience mock trial proceedings. Furthermore, as they brush shoulders with responsible adults both in and outside of the courtroom, they are learning the concept of volunteerism, leadership, and responsibility. Numerous hours of service are continually given by the youth defendants to area non-profit agencies. As the teen defendants "pay back" the community through these service hours, the community is giving them an opportunity to explore their own skills and talents. Thus, all teen participants can discover their role as a contributing member of the community.

Beaumont is proud of its community for the ongoing support of time given by so many volunteers. It's inspiring to see people come together to support the education of our youth as we encourage them to accept the responsibility of their choices and the consequences that follow.

One unit equals four hours. Jury term and essay are mandatory.

CLASS 1: Includes, but is not limited to: littering, remaining in park after closing. Discipline -- three to five units of community service and one jury term and essay.

CLASS 2: Includes, but is not limited to: anti-noise violations, disorderly conduct (fighting other than school premises), smoking where prohibited. Discipline -- four to six units of community service and one jury term and essay.

CLASS 3: Includes, but is not limited to: disorderly conduct (abuse-threat; assault-threat; fighting on school premises; and language), disruption school class, minor in possession (alcohol education class is mandatory), public order violations, theft under $50. Discipline -- Five to seven units of community service and one jury term and essay.

CLASS 4: Includes, but is not limited to: criminal mischief under $20, curfew, failure to leave I.D., leaving scene of an accident. Discipline -- Six to eight units of community service and one jury term and essay.