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Home My WebLink AboutTCA 1997-06-23 Minutes City of North Richland Hills Teen Court Advisory Board Meeting Minutes June 23, 1997 Present Lynn Simpson, Ron Moore, Bill Moore, Kathy Graves Absent Wayne Moody, Kent Choate, Sabrina Lopez Meeting Called to Order 6:05 Board Meeting Format We discussed in open format form how board meetings were conducted. This was for the benefit of the new Teen Court Coordinator. This was her first meeting. Trial Cases There was discussion of the lack of how cases are being tried by the teen attorneys. There is a training session for old and new attorneys to address this situation. The issue of getting police to participate in Teen Court was discussed. The coordinator will discuss this with the appropriate personnel in the police department. Concerns about Jurors This issues is serious concern for alf board members present and the coordinator. The concern is the teens' lack of serious participation in the jury process. Another is the jurors' failure to deliberate on the issues of the case. We discussed many ways to address this concern. • change the jury process sheet to be more beneficial • Institute a jury evaluation form to be complete by jury member and reviewed by judge and/or coordinator to determine if jury member actively participated in process and whether jury session shauld count as being served. • Warning jury members that non active participation would result in jury duty not counted as served. • Misbehavior of jury member will effect entire jury panel. (Get jurors to police themselves) • Have each ~ury member list one fact from the case and sign name by their fact. • Have each jury member list one fact that influences your decision on choosing the max or min sentence. • Pre-assigning jurors to cases • Randomizing ~ury selection (assigning a juror a number) • Dismiss prospective jurors from jury for improper dress. Lack of control in court room All member at meeting voiced the fack of respect being shown in court room by teen and parents. We discussed concerns. • Enforce dress code uniformly among teen and adults Minutes: June 23, 1997 Page 2 • Do not allow improperly dress people inside courtroom • Post sign with dress code outside courtroom door. • Closing of doors during case prosecution • No walking allowed during trials • Post court rules outside of courtroom door • Use jury members to police doors • Need for board members and coordinator to enforce control over courtroom Teen Court expansion Coordinator discussed future concerns about the growth of teen court. Court room is not big enough to hold current jury members. Coordinator asked to asked librarian about south room for teen court. Fundraisers Coordinator asked board members to think about fundraising projects, e.g., car washes, garage sales, etc. Also coordinator requested each member to get a list of all city sponsored events so that teen court can participate. It would provide exposure, fundraising opportunities, and teen court participants to get community service hours. Miscellaneous There were formal introductions of board members to coordinator; which council person appointed which board member. Coordinator informed members of the new Teen board member, Sabrina Lopez. Coordinator was informed there are two new council members, one is Cheryl Lyman and the other is unknown and that Tami Spraggins has been replaced but unknown by whom. Concerns were expressed about Council persons getting newsletters. Adjournment 7:30