| 1 | 1 | | H.R. No. 1560 |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, The volunteers and staff of the San Antonio Teen |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | Court provide an important civic service by taking part in a |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | juvenile justice program that benefits the residents of Bexar |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | County and also provides valuable experience for student |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | participants who fill the courtroom assignments; and |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | WHEREAS, Based on the principle of peers judging peers, Teen |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | Court hears cases involving defendants under the age of 18 who are |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | enrolled in school and are charged with first-time Class C |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | misdemeanor offenses; after arraignment by an adult judge, teens |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | act as judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, bailiffs, clerks, |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | and jurors to hear the case; and |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | WHEREAS, Judgment is handed down to a defendant in the form of |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | community service, and successful completion of that service |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | results in the dismissal of the case; and |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | WHEREAS, Participants receive training, which includes |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | workshops, mock trials, and mentoring from adult judges, attorneys, |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | and community leaders, as well as continuing education classes; and |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | WHEREAS, Since the program's start in 2002, over 400 trials |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | have been conducted and more than 200 teens have participated; |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | under the outstanding leadership of coordinator Edinia E. Espinoza |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | and presiding judge Alfredo M. Tavera, the program currently has a |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | roster of 135 members; and |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | WHEREAS, By aiding the administration of juvenile justice and |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | providing young Texans with first-hand experience in the legal |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | system, the San Antonio Teen Court helps prepare youths for the |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | future, and in so doing, contributes immeasurably to the well-being |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | Legislature hereby recognize all involved with the San Antonio Teen |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | Court and commend them for their dedicated service to the |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | community; and, be it further |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | prepared for the Teen Court as an expression of high regard by the |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | Gutierrez |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | ______________________________ |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | Speaker of the House |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | I certify that H.R. No. 1560 was adopted by the House on April |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | 24, 2009, by a non-record vote. |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | ______________________________ |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | Chief Clerk of the House |
|---|